Britain agreed the most significant reset of defence and trade ties with the European Union since Brexit on Monday after U.S. President Donald Trump's upending of the global order pushed the two sides to move on from their acrimonious divorce, Reuters reports.
Nearly nine years after it voted to leave the bloc, Britain, the second largest defence spender in Europe, will take part in joint procurement projects. The sides also agreed to make it easier for UK food and visitors to reach the EU, and signed a contentious new fishing deal.
Trump's tariffs, alongside warnings that Europe should do more to protect itself, forced governments around the world to rethink trade, defence and security ties, bringing British Prime Minister Keir Starmer closer to France's Emmanuel Macron and other European leaders.
Starmer, who backed remaining in the EU in the Brexit referendum, also bet that offering benefits to Britons such as the use of faster e-gates at EU airports will drown out the cries of "betrayal" from Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage.
Flanked by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa, Starmer said the deal marked "a new era in our relationship".
Von der Leyen said it sent a message to the world: "At a time of global instability, and when our continent faces the greatest threat it has for generations, we in Europe stick together."
Britain said the reset with its biggest trading partner would reduce red tape for food and agricultural producers, making food cheaper, improve energy security and add nearly 9 billion pounds ($12.1 billion) to the economy by 2040.
It is the third deal Britain has struck this month, after agreements with India and the U.S., and while it is unlikely to lead to an immediate economic boost, it could lift business confidence, drawing much-needed investment.
