On Sunday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosted German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at his country estate, Chequers, marking an occasion aimed at enhancing ties with the European Union. This meeting comes just before Starmer engages with E.U. leaders in Belgium on Monday, where he hopes to initiate a “reset” of the UK’s relationship with Europe.
Despite ruling out the possibility of re-entering the E.U. trade bloc five years after Brexit, Starmer has expressed his desire to establish a closer partnership in various sectors, including defense, energy, and trade. “Pursuing this is in the best interest of the U.K., and I believe it is also beneficial for the E.U. As I’ve noted over the past seven months, there is already a noticeable shift in approach, tone, and our relationship,” he stated.
During their discussions, Starmer and Scholz focused on pressing international issues, particularly the situations in Ukraine and the Middle East. Starmer emphasized their mutual commitment to providing support for Ukraine as the conflict with Russia reaches its fourth anniversary this month. They both agreed that Russia’s aggressive actions highlight the urgency for enhancing and coordinating defense production across Europe.
A spokesperson for Starmer mentioned that the meeting underlined the significance of a defense pact that the U.K. and Germany signed in October, marking it as a pioneering agreement between NATO allies aimed at bolstering European security in light of escalating Russian threats. Furthermore, Starmer revealed that the upcoming strategic defense review by the British government will incorporate crucial insights gained from the conflict in Ukraine, particularly in countering Putin’s aggressive maneuvers.
Starmer expressed gratitude to Scholz for making the visit during a challenging time in his re-election campaign. Scholz’s party, the center-left Social Democrats, is currently trailing behind the center-right Christian Democratic Union and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), just weeks ahead of the February 23 elections.
Reflecting on his tenure, Starmer remarked, “Since assuming office seven months ago, my aim has been to strengthen our countries’ relationship – which was already robust but had room for improvement in various areas. Thanks to your leadership, I believe we have made significant progress.” Scholz, in turn, acknowledged the importance of their meeting, stating that their walk around the estate and subsequent lunch symbolized the strong ties that exist between the two nations and their leaders.
