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

David Lammy’s whirlwind first journey as overseas secretary, organised at very quick discover, is just not 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 working, brimming with goodwill in direction of a number of the UK’s most essential companions.

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

After a few hours of talks, it was again on the aircraft 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 nations play essential roles in sustaining Kyiv’s struggle 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 supply extra artillery weapons, a quarter-of-a-million ammunition rounds and practically 100 precision Brimstone missiles.

“There might have been a change in authorities, however the UK is united for Ukraine,” he mentioned, promising to “reinvigorate” assist by way of elevated navy help.

He additionally pledged to fast-track the reinforcements to make sure they arrive with the following 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 is not going to 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 start out 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 fairly 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 following assembly of the European Political Neighborhood (established by Emmanuel Macron within the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine), “the brand new spirit of co-operation can 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 tough instances to be shoring up relationships, with France taking a lurch to the fitting and the US probably on the verge of returning the unpredictable Donald Trump to workplace.

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

“I’m involved after 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 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, specifically the struggle 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 approach to finish the Gaza struggle and revive the Arab-Israeli peace course of appears destined to eat 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 widespread with the incoming Starmer administration.

Each, Mr Sikorski mentioned, had been “the product of the general public being drained with fans on the nationalist aspect of politics” – a comment which maybe solely partially mirrored the true nature of final week’s normal 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 additional that”.