UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is hoping to use his two-day visit to Germany and France, to reset relations with the rest of the European Union. Starmer discussed a landmark economic and defence accord with German leaders on Wednesday.
Starmer has expressed interest in improving Britain’s ties with its European allies and boost its economic growth. This is different from the previous Conservative government’s fractious relations with Europe.
Starmer visited Berlin’s famous landmark – the Brandenburg Gate on Tuesday. On Wednesday, he met German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. He was later greeted with military honours by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Starmer discussed a new pact with Scholz, a fellow leftist. They hope it will bring about an unprecedented degree of bilateral military cooperation and greater collaboration in areas such as trade and energy.
“We must turn a corner on Brexit and fix the broken relationships left behind by the previous government,” Starmer said in a statement.
Britain had no plans to negotiate a youth mobility scheme with the EU to get better Brexit terms, he added. He repeated that he would not take the country back into the bloc’s single market.
“I am delighted that Keir Starmer has announced that he will seek a fresh start in relations with the EU,” Scholz said in a joint news conference in Berlin with the British premier. “We want to take this outstretched hand.”
Impact Of U.S. Elections
Britain and Germany are NATO allies and western Europe’s biggest defence spenders. They are looking for ways to increase defence cooperation ahead of a possible scaling back of U.S. military. American Support for Ukraine may scale back if former U.S. President Donald Trump returns to the White House early next year.
Concerns that the U.S. could cut back Ukraine support have increased since Trump picked JD Vance as his running mate. Vance has stressed his opposition to the U.S. writing “blank checks” to help Ukraine fight off Russia’s two-and-a-half-year-old invasion.
On his trip to Germany, Starmer will also hold talks with business leaders including Armin Papperger. Papperger was the target of a Russian assassination plot. The Kremlin said the reports were fake and should not be taken seriously.
He will also meet Christian Bruch, Siemens Energy’s CEO, which employs about 6,000 people in Britain, to discuss further investment and creating more highly skilled jobs.
After the talks in Germany, Starmer will head to Paris for the Paralympics opening ceremony on Wednesday night. He is expected to meet Paralympic athletes as they prepare for competition, before having talks with President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysée Palace.
(with inputs from Reuters)
