French President Emmanuel Macron recently spoke of a need for “re-engagement” with the United Kingdom after years of Brexit talks. His words followed a landmark state visit by King Charles III. Underneath the pageantry, a new understanding is growing.
A post-Brexit UK is not a lost limb for Europe. Instead, London is a necessary partner. For the European Union to lead, it must look to its powerful, independent neighbour.
The world has grown more dangerous. Russia’s war in Ukraine grinds on. The United States and China are locked in fierce competition. In this new era, old spats over Brexit feel like a luxury Europe cannot afford.
Pragmatism must now steer the ship.
Building Europe’s Shield Against New Threats
In a world of shifting powers, defence comes first. The EU has great economic weight. It lacks matching military might.
France and the UK are Europe’s two serious military outfits. Their cooperation is already deep. The 2010 Lancaster House Treaties bound them together on security long before the current troubles.
Furthermore, the UK consistently meets the NATO spending target of 2% of its output. Many EU members do not. It goes without saying that Britain’s early, strong backing for Ukraine showed a willingness to act decisively.
A European leadership that can project hard power needs London at its core. It is not an option. It is a necessity.
Winning the Future Race for Technology
Europe’s future standing rests on more than guns. It depends on owning the next wave of technology, like AI.
Here, another UK-EU partnership makes sense. The UK is a world centre for AI development. It has the second-highest level of private AI investment globally. The country’s universities and start-ups are top-tier.
On the other hand, the EU is building a powerful regulatory framework for technology. Brussels sets the rules. London drives the innovation. Together, they can set a global standard. A standard that stands apart from American and Chinese models. This is the litmus test for Europe’s future economic sovereignty.
Finding Common Ground on Shared Borders
For all the high-level strategy, some problems are very down-to-earth. The movement of people across the English Channel is one such problem.
It is a humanitarian and political hardship for both sides. Neither government can fix it alone. This reality has forced a new type of cooperation.
London has now agreed to pay Paris hundreds of millions of euros. The funds will help stop the small boats. This is not about ideology. It is about a shared, messy job that needs doing. It shows that practical needs can build new trust.
Scepticism Over a New London-Paris Axis
Of course, not everyone is convinced. There is much scepticism.
Many in Brussels and other European capitals believe the UK made its bed. They feel Brexit has done lasting damage. They point to years of squabbling over trade and borders as proof. For them, the EU must build its own autonomie stratégique without London.
Why Shared Dangers Outweigh Old Grievances
Such a view is understandable. It is also out of date.
The world of 2023 is not the world of the Brexit vote. A self-contained European defence project is a fantasy. It lacks the military punch without the UK’s armed forces and intelligence services. Reality bites hard.
As a matter of fact, the state visit itself shows that leaders are moving on. Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer are looking to the future. Shared threats from hostile states are a greater concern than past disagreements.
Making the New Partnership Work Practically
For this renewed cooperation to have meaning, it needs a proper home. Talks and visits are good. A formal structure is better.
The time is right for a new UK-EU council. A body focused solely on security, defence, and future technology. Such a group would make cooperation routine, not an event. It would give experts and officials a permanent place to work together. This would turn good intentions into joint action.
For the sake of Europe’s place in the world, this is a clear next step.
Paris and London are not building a bridge over past divides. They are building a shared shield for Europe. A shield built with British steel, French skill, and a newfound sense of common purpose.
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