Rebuilding bridges: Trump, Ukraine war drawing Britain and EU closer

Trump's policies threaten to upend Europe's security and economic arrangements

- Jonathan Eyal

BRUSSELS - Five years after the United Kingdom formally severed its political and trade links with the European Union, the two seek to heal their deep rift.

Dr Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, the EU's executive body, has just returned from a visit to London, claiming that her talks with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer had proven that the EU and the UK "are ready to face global challenges as like-minded partners".

Ambassadors from the EU's 27 member states convened on April 30 in Brussels to review a newly circulated British proposal that will commit the Union and the UK to further strengthen their relationship, particularly in their shared support for the principles of free trade and Ukraine's continued resistance to the Russian invasion.

None of these moves will erase the main consequences of Britain's departure from the EU: Border controls restricting the free movement of people will remain in place, and some trade difficulties will persist.

But there is no question that political engagement across the Channel between the UK and the EU has never been closer since Brexit, and the two are poised to cement their relationship even further at a summit scheduled to take place in London on May 19.

Nor is there much doubt about the immediate impetus for this trend: the shock throughout Europe about US President Donald Trump's policies, which threaten to upend the continent's security and economic arrangements.

Britain severed its formal links with the EU on Jan 31, 2020, on bad terms. Many key economic arrangements remained unaddressed. And there was anger on both sides.

British negotiators resented the alleged pettiness of their EU counterparts. And EU officials complained that the Brits did not know what they wanted.