New UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy wants to reset ties with EU

David Lammy’s whirlwind first journey as overseas secretary, organised at very brief discover, shouldn’t be about immediate outcomes and even courageous new horizons.

It is all about notion – the looks of a brand new, vigorous administration, decided to hit the bottom operating, brimming with goodwill in the direction of a number of the UK’s most vital companions.

After a night spent with his German counterpart, Annalena Baerbock – the 2 discovered time to watch a couple of minutes of England’s European Championship quarter-final – Mr Lammy’s tour moved to the bucolic environment of the nation property of Poland’s Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorsky.

After a few hours of talks, it was again on the airplane for a brief flight north to one in all Nato’s latest members, Sweden.

Why Germany, Poland and Sweden?

Partly due to Ukraine. Along with Britain, all three international locations play vital roles in sustaining Kyiv’s battle effort. With the brand new Defence Secretary John Healey on the bottom in Odesa, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s authorities is eager to stress that the UK’s dedication to Ukraine will stay rock strong.

Following a gathering with President Zelensky and his counterpart Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, Mr Healey mentioned the UK would supply extra artillery weapons, a quarter-of-a-million ammunition rounds and almost 100 precision Brimstone missiles.

“There may have been a change in government, but the UK is united for Ukraine,” he mentioned, promising to “reinvigorate” help by way of elevated navy help.

He additionally pledged to fast-track the reinforcements to guarantee they arrive with the subsequent 100 days.

“We want to double down on our commitment to Ukraine,” Mr Lammy mentioned, as dragonflies swooped over a tranquil lake and a pair of majestic eagles circled overhead.

France, within the midst of its personal election – one which appears destined to have far-reaching penalties – was not on the itinerary. Not this weekend.

No cease in Brussels, both. Sir Keir has mentioned the UK won’t return to the EU “in my lifetime”.

But Poland and Sweden are each key European companions and fellow Nato members – good locations for the overseas secretary to begin exploring the outlines of nearer future relations.

“I want to reset both our bilateral relationship and our relationship with the European Union,” Mr Lammy mentioned, including a reference to Labour’s nonetheless somewhat nebulous pledge to strike a brand new EU-UK safety pact.

Meanwhile, on a go to to Edinburgh on Sunday, the prime minister mentioned work was already underneath means to enhance the UK’s relationship with the EU.

He mentioned his authorities “can get a much better deal than the botched deal that Boris Johnson saddled the UK with”.

Mr Lammy mentioned that when European leaders collect at Blenheim Palace on 18 July for the subsequent assembly of the European Political Community (established by Emmanuel Macron within the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine), “the new spirit of co-operation will be on show”.

The journey comes simply days earlier than Sir Keir takes his personal first steps on the worldwide stage as prime minister, on the Nato summit in Washington DC.

These are tough occasions to be shoring up relationships, with France taking a lurch to the appropriate and the US presumably on the verge of returning the unpredictable Donald Trump to workplace.

Mr Lammy agreed this was a “tough geopolitical moment”, however mentioned it was vital not to confuse disagreements between mature democracies with the threats posed by authoritarian regimes.

“I am concerned when I see Iranian drones turning up in Ukraine,” he mentioned.

“I’m involved after I see shells from North Korea getting used right here on European soil.

“And after all I’m involved with the partnership that I see Russia brokering throughout these authoritarian states.”

Other points dangle heavy over the brand new overseas secretary’s first journey, particularly the battle in Gaza.

In Germany on Saturday, Mr Lammy spoke to the necessity to strike a “more balanced approach to Israel-Gaza”.

It shouldn’t be clear precisely what he meant, however with ceasefire talks apparently poised to resume, discovering a means to finish the Gaza battle and revive the Arab-Israeli peace course of appears destined to devour a considerable amount of diplomatic time within the coming months.

For his half, Mr Lammy’s famously anglophile host mentioned the comparatively new Polish authorities shared one thing in widespread with the incoming Starmer administration.

Both, Mr Sikorski mentioned, had been “the product of the public being tired with enthusiasts on the nationalist side of politics” – a comment which maybe solely partially mirrored the true nature of final week’s common election.

Mr Sikorski mentioned he appeared ahead to “a more pragmatic approach” from Britain to its relationship with Europe and mentioned the 2 ministers had mentioned “some creative ideas of how to further that”.