Starmer meets EU leaders, seeks relations reset post-Brexit

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with EU leaders in Brussels for the first time since Brexit to discuss a potential reset in UK-EU relations, focusing on defense cooperation and responses to geopolitical pressures, particularly from Russia. During the meeting, which included a dinner with all 27 EU member states, Starmer emphasized the need for joint efforts in security and defense, especially in light of the war in Ukraine. However, EU leaders expressed disappointment over the lack of concrete proposals from the British government, despite initial optimism. Starmer ruled out rejoining the EU customs union and European single market but sought smaller agreements to enhance cooperation. The discussions also touched on a proposed youth mobility scheme, although the UK government indicated it was not a priority due to migration concerns. Overall, the meeting aimed to strengthen ties while addressing shared challenges in a post-Brexit context.