New UK Overseas Secretary David Lammy desires to reset ties with EU

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

It’s 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 few of the UK’s most essential companions.

After a night spent along with his German counterpart, Annalena Baerbock – the 2 discovered time to observe 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 Overseas Minister Radoslaw Sikorsky.

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

Why Germany, Poland and Sweden?

Partly due to Ukraine. Together with Britain, all three international locations play essential roles in sustaining Kyiv’s conflict effort. With the brand new Defence Secretary John Healey on the bottom in Odesa, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s authorities is eager to emphasize 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 offer extra artillery weapons, a quarter-of-a-million ammunition rounds and almost 100 precision Brimstone missiles.

“There might have been a change in authorities, however the UK is united for Ukraine,” he mentioned, promising to “reinvigorate” help through elevated army support.

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

“We wish to double down on our dedication 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”.

However 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 wish to reset each our bilateral relationship and our relationship with the European Union,” Mr Lammy mentioned, including a reference to Labour’s nonetheless slightly nebulous pledge to strike a brand new EU-UK safety pact.

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

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 difficult occasions to be shoring up relationships, with France taking a lurch to the suitable and the US probably on the verge of returning the unpredictable Donald Trump to workplace.

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

“I’m involved once I see Iranian drones turning up in Ukraine,” he mentioned.

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

“And naturally I am involved with the partnership that I see Russia brokering throughout these authoritarian states.”

Different points cling heavy over the brand new overseas secretary’s first journey, particularly the conflict in Gaza.

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

It’s not clear precisely what he meant, however with ceasefire talks apparently poised to renew, discovering a option to finish the Gaza conflict 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 anglophone host mentioned the comparatively new Polish authorities shared one thing in frequent with the incoming Starmer administration.

Each, Mr Sikorski mentioned, had been “the product of the general public being drained with lovers on the nationalist aspect 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 extra pragmatic strategy” from Britain to its relationship with Europe and mentioned the 2 ministers had mentioned “some inventive concepts of find out how to additional that”.