UK moves closer to EU defence pact as Starmer aims for stronger ties
On Thursday, April 24, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is on the verge of finalizing a new defence agreement with the European Union, a significant step in rebuilding relations after Brexit.
Both UK and EU officials are optimistic that this move will help strengthen post-Brexit ties, especially in light of the shifting global landscape under US President Donald Trump, who has disrupted long-standing security and trade alliances.
Since becoming Prime Minister last year, Starmer has focused on improving security and defence ties with the EU, an area where the UK has significant expertise. This focus on defence could pave the way for deeper collaboration in other sectors. However, Starmer must carefully balance this, ensuring that the UK does not appear to be moving too close to the EU, especially as his government also seeks to secure a better economic deal with the United States, particularly to reduce tariffs on US imports.
The UK Prime Minister is scheduled to meet with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in London on Thursday, and both British and European officials are confident that a defence agreement could be reached at a planned Britain-EU summit next month.
German Ambassador to London, Miguel Berger, highlighted the significance of the summit, noting that it would take place in a challenging political climate. “That makes it all the more important that the European Union, the United Kingdom, and wider Europe cooperate jointly as much as possible,” he said.
The summit, set for May 19, is expected to produce a statement outlining a timeline for future negotiations on other areas of collaboration, including energy, fisheries, food standards, and youth mobility.
Since leaving the EU in 2020 following the historic 2016 referendum vote, the UK has faced ongoing challenges due to global geopolitical shifts, particularly with Trump’s imposition of tariffs and his questioning of US security commitments to its allies.
Starmer’s government, which has a mandate to boost the UK economy, is also navigating the economic impact of these global changes, with tariff uncertainty threatening to slow down growth worldwide.
In related news, British Finance Minister Rachel Reeves is set to meet with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Washington to discuss improving UK-US trade relations. Reeves emphasized that while Britain would not lower its standards in sectors like food or automobiles to secure a trade deal with the US, it remains open to reducing trade barriers between the two nations.
