European Union and United Kingdom: a new defense agreement after Brexit
The European Union and the United Kingdom are beginning to reestablish relations after Brexit, focusing their agreements on defense, migration, and trade since the summit in London.
The European Union and the United Kingdom have taken the first steps to "reestablish" their relations after Brexit. This approach started as a consequence of the Ukrainian war; therefore, they included more joint work in defense, as well as migration and commercial issues.
The pact, agreed upon at a London summit this Monday, is the result of a numerous meeting between Downing Street and Brussels. Other topics included were work and travel.
The defense agreement between the UK and European Union
The European Union and the United Kingdom have been working closer since the Russian invasion. However, since President Donald Trump stated that he would withdraw the U.S. guarantees in Europe, they quickly started the agreement to make a stronger pact before it happened. That guarantees that Kyiv could not manage alone against Moscow.
The main topic of the summit was defense. In that line, the first summit agreed on the participation of London in SAFE (Security Action for Europe), the new EU instrument for financing the defense industry of Member States. It also continues with the integration of the UK in the single market as a response to trade threats from across the Atlantic.
Keir Starmer, Prime Minister, defending his opinions for the Brexit. Photo: AFP News
SAFE: A €150 billion defense fund
Access to SAFE from the UK is an important step in their relationship. It allows London to participate in joint procurement. Subsequently, British companies could also apply to the program through new bilateral agreements. That stands in line with the Brexit position of Downing Street: "No return to the single market or the customs union, no return to freedom of movement."
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that these agreements have allowed London to approach the summit with the EU from a position of strength. Other agreements made were the free trade deal with New Delhi, the tariff agreement with Washington, and the reopening of the single market across the Channel.
