A defence deal with Poland is the latest part of Downing Street’s efforts to improve relations with the EU, as the UK boost security ties with one of Europe’s friendlier capitals.
Also in European affairs, a senior Irish minister has called China “a risk” to Europe just as Ireland is about to take the presidency of the Council of the EU.
There was also another delay to a much-anticipated US-Iran peace deal, as US President Donald Trump rejected media reports containing details of a purported agreement.
Poland and UK strike deal
The UK and Poland have signed a new defence and security treaty, which Downing Street says is part of the wider exercise in rebuilding EU-UK relations.
UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer and his Polish counterpart Donald Tusk met in London yesterday (27 May) to sign a treaty that focuses on security, tackling organised crime and defence. A press statement from Downing Street said that the agreement would open up defence benefits, with increased industrial and manufacturing capacity set to protect “sovereign production chains”.
Starmer said that the deal also “delivered on my commitment to work more closely with European partners to boost security and opportunity for people at home and stability across our continent.”
Poland has been one of the fastest growing economies in the EU for several years. Additionally, Tusk has been a crucial ally for Brussels. Having served as president of the European Council, he returned to his native Poland in 2023 to oust a government that was antagonistic to the EU, as leader of a liberal political party.
China ‘risk to EU’ says Irish defence minister
A senior Irish minister has said that China is a “risk to Europe”, only weeks ahead of Ireland assuming the presidency of the Council of the EU.
“China, in some respects, is a risk to Europe, there is no question about that. But in other respects of course, we have to work with them,” Ireland’s EU and defence minister, Thomas Byrne, told Politico Morning Trade yesterday.
He said he wanted to set a “clear direction” on the council’s position on China at a meeting in June, calling it a “very important” move.
Ireland is due to take over the six-month rotating presidency of the Council of the EU on 1 July from Cyprus. Before this, EU leaders will gather in Brussels (18-19 June) to discuss the European position on China, amid reports of a French-led strategy paper on protecting continental trade. A ‘kick-off’ debate is scheduled for Friday.
Five EU nations have called for tougher trade weapons on China in a ‘non-paper’ released by France, with the Netherlands, Spain, Italy and Lithuania also said to be in support.
Middle East
Trump has dismissed reports of a Middle East peace deal.
Iranian media released the details of a reported peace deal that would restore commercial shipping to the Strait of Hormuz within a month. In return, the US would be required to lift its naval blockade and withdraw its military from the vicinity of Iran.
One of the aspects of the purported deal was that Iran and Oman would jointly manage traffic through the strait.
In response, oil prices fell to a five-week low as hopes rose once again that peace might finally be within grasp. However, Trump was quick to dismiss this report and insult Oman, a current US ally.
"Nobody's going to control (the strait)," Trump said during a cabinet meeting.
"It's international waters, and Oman will behave just like everybody else or we'll have to blow them up. They understand that, they'll be fine."
Trump insisted that rising economic pressure would not force him into a deal, months ahead of the US midterms, as polls suggest that US voters increasingly disapprove of both his foreign and economic policy.
Media reports suggest that fighting has resumed. US Central Command confirmed that it had shot down four Iranian drones and attacked a ground control station in Southern Iran, while Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it had attacked a US airbase.
Other news
· HMRC has published new, sector-specific guidance on the preparing for the sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement for businesses that trade or move plants, plant products, animals, animal products, feed and food
· Trade minister Sir Chris Bryant will meet his New Zealand and Singaporean counterparts in London on Monday, according to Politico Morning Trade
· The head of the Government Communications Headquarters, Anne Keast-Butler, said that “Putin is going backwards on the battlefield”, while warning of Moscow’s attempts to smuggle Western tech back to Russia, in the annual GCHQ lecture at Bletchley Park
Yesterday in Trade
· HMRC is asking for trader support to reshape the UK’s Single Trade Window, and there’s still time to respond to its survey ahead of a 3 June deadline
· Fifteen UK retailers have written to the government to call for a flat charge on low-value good imports
· The government provided an update on reclaiming duty payments on goods brought into Northern Ireland under the Duty Reimbursement Scheme
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