Link to article: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/apr/01/uk-needs-ambitious-new-eu-ties-amid-iran-war-starmer-says
The UKs PM Keir Starmer has stated that he wishes to pursue closer UK-EU relations and cooperation. After Brexit the UK has largely been left to fend for themselves economically. But new international security threats have pushed the UK to reconsider their relationship to the EU. The UK is seeking cooperation surrounding three main points: Defense, Trade, and Security. This all comes as the future of Nato is now uncertain after some of President Trump’s actions and decisions regarding the US’s relations with the EU and European states. Lastly, the article argues that current events regarding the UK and Europe have forced many states to find alternatives for Defense, Trade, and Security, after seeing the once stable ally of the US turn on the EU.
This article highlights how Brexit did not eliminate interdependence as many people thought it did. In this we also see how states, even those like the UK which is seen as one of the most progressive thinking ideology will still choose security over cooperation when push comes to shove. One interesting point that I was also thinking about it how the current globalized world has left little to no room for nationalism to rise up. Using this as an example, it is hard to be an English nationalist when you have to seek other states to ensure your protection. Additionally I find it hard to believe that if the EU and the UK actually make these connections, that the UK will not be looking to join the EU. It is hard to keep political independence when being dependent on things like economics and security.
UK – The UK, if these relationships actually are made, will most likely first off apply for the 16 billion euro defense stimulus. They will also use their now bettered relations to negotiate better trade deals with the member states of the EU. EU – the EU will most likely not allow the UK full membership yet but will most likely shoot for a partial observer like relationship where the UK will not enjoy all the benefits but will still be allowed better trade relations with the rest of the EU.
I see connections to concepts of Hard power, sovereignty, and interdependence. For hard power, one of the main points for the UK seeking these relations is the US and Greenland debate. Now seeing the US threaten military power on a fellow Nato state has lead to fears of protection not being upheld. For sovereignty, the UK is trying to get closer to joining the EU or trying to get increasingly closer to the EU. This will affect their sovereignty if they join seeing as they would have to accept open borders and the euro. For interdependence, every decision made by one of these actors completely affects the others. The US affected the UK which affected the UK’s foreign policy which affected the EU and so on.