Trump’s return to the White House has pushed Europe and Britain closer together | Real Time Headlines

Brussels, Belgium President-elect Donald Trump It has not yet returned to the White House, but the UK and neighboring EU are already working closely to protect themselves from potential trade and defense confrontations with the incoming US leader.

British Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves traveled to Brussels on Monday to meet with her EU counterparts, the first such meeting since Brexit in 2020. This will be the first of “many” meetings.

“There was a general feeling that in a turbulent world we still share common interests and values,” an EU official said of the meeting, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the delicate nature of the dialogue. British Chancellor of the Exchequer.

The official added that these shared values ​​involve Ukraine, China and the United States

Reeves and her colleagues She did not disclose specific details of the Brussels talks, but mentioned before the meeting that there are three areas where the UK and EU can cooperate more: supporting Ukraine, advocating for free trade and strengthening bilateral economic partnerships.

How thoroughly these conversations progress remains to be seen, but several sessions have been added to the diary to address these topics.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is liaising with the EU in the short term and is scheduled to receive European Council President Antonio Costa on Thursday and is expected to attend a meeting of EU heads of state in early 2025.

A senior EU diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the negotiations, told CNBC that the EU would likely benefit from closer ties with the UK due to its historical “special relationship” with the United States. The idea comes amid comments by the US president-elect about possible tariffs on European countries and a reduction in Washington’s support for Ukraine. Trump previously said on the central bank’s “Meet the Press” program that he would “probably” cut such aid.

Ignacio García Bersero, a non-resident fellow at the Bruegel Institute and former chief negotiator of the EU-US trade talks, said that the EU needs to consider its relationship with the UK when dealing with possible more protectionism in the United States.

“Strategically it is also important that the UK and EU discuss these issues. We will ensure that when we engage with the US we do so in a coherent way, which in practice we have not done so.” (in terms of rebuilding relations with the UK),” he said.

Britain and the EU have endured turbulent years since the Brexit referendum, with complex negotiations damaging their relationship. The new Labor government came to power in July after 14 years of competing with the Conservatives, hoping to rebuild trust and end recent confrontations.

“I’m not here today to start negotiations or to make a set of demands, these conversations about reset and these negotiations will begin in the new year, but my goal today is to start rebuilding those bonds. “The trust that has developed over the past few years It’s broken,” Prime Minister Reeves said after the meeting in Brussels.

At the same time, she made clear that her goal was not to rejoin the EU or change negotiations on the Brexit deal.