Britain's new Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged for enhanced collaboration in Europe to bolster support for Ukraine and address the continent's most urgent issues: illegal migration, climate change, and energy security. During the opening of the European Political Community (EPC) meeting at Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Winston Churchill, Starmer advocated for a fresh start in post-Brexit relations with the European Union. He distanced himself from the previous Conservative government's threat to withdraw from a human rights treaty, offering a clean slate to other European leaders.
"Under my leadership, Britain will be a friend and a partner, ready to work with you, not part of the European Union, but very much part of Europe," Starmer stated, referencing Britain's departure from the EU following the 2016 referendum. He emphasized the shared values and collective achievements, addressing the EPC leaders, a group separate from the EU formed after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The one-day EPC meeting provided Starmer another chance to promote closer defense cooperation, particularly ahead of a potential Donald Trump presidency. Two weeks after a significant election victory and his first international trip to NATO in Washington, Starmer called on Europe to increase support for Ukraine against Russia. "Our first task today is to confirm our unwavering support for Ukraine," he declared.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy reiterated the call for Western allies to permit long-range strikes on Russian military airfields. NATO members have varied in their approaches to Ukraine's use of donated weapons, but NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced a command center would be operational in Germany from September to better coordinate military support.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, criticized for recent talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, suggested a negotiated solution to the Ukraine war. Starmer has been keen to reset EU ties post-Brexit, stating he does not foresee Britain rejoining the single market or customs union in his lifetime. European leaders generally supported Starmer's defense cooperation plans, with French President Emmanuel Macron calling it a "great opportunity for a reset."
Sunak's decision to hold an early election on July 4 allowed Starmer to advance early talks with NATO and the EPC, setting a tone for friendlier ties. Officials highlighted that negotiating a comprehensive security pact, covering energy, supply chains, pandemics, and migration, would be a later stage in the talks, with the EU firm on no "cherry picking." At Blenheim Palace, leaders also discussed energy security, safeguarding democracy, and migration, with Starmer emphasizing the importance of developing personal relationships with other leaders for effective cooperation.
