Britain and the European Union on Monday struck a landmark deal to remove some post-Brexit trade barriers and to bolster cooperation on security and defense as they reduce their reliance on an unpredictable United States.
The agreement, unveiled by Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain and Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, in Lancaster House, an ornate government building in London, is a significant reset for the two allies.
But the final details of several important policies were not in place, and Britain had to make some concessions that could prove politically costly for Mr. Starmer.
The agreement is designed to help the two sides work more closely together after the Trump administration signaled it was reducing its commitment to European defense and imposed global tariffs.
It also underscores the Labour government’s ambition for a “reset” of ties with the 27-nation European Union, almost nine years after Britons voted by a narrow margin to leave the bloc — a decision that has dented Britain’s economic growth.
“It’s time to look forward,” Mr. Starmer said, “to move on from the stale old debates and political fights to focus on delivering common-sense, practical solutions which get the best for the British people.”
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