British PM Starmer in Berlin for talks to reset ties with Europe

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will discuss a landmark economic and defence accord with German leaders on Wednesday, hoping to use a two-day visit to the European Union's top powers Germany and France to reset relations with the rest of the bloc.

Starmer said he wanted Britain to move beyond the previous Conservative government's fractious relations with European allies and put improved ties at the heart of his efforts to boost Britain's economic growth.

In Berlin on Tuesday, Starmer visited the landmark Brandenburg Gate, before meeting President Frank-Walter Steinmeier early on Wednesday. Later, he was greeted with military honors by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz outside the chancellery under a bright blue sky.

Starmer will discuss with Scholz, a fellow leftist, a new pact they hope will bring about an unprecedented degree of bilateral military cooperation and greater collaboration in areas such as trade and energy.

The pair will hold a joint press conference at midday.

"We must turn a corner on Brexit and fix the broken relationships left behind by the previous government," Starmer said in a statement. "We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reset our relationship with Europe."

Britain and Germany, NATO allies and western Europe's biggest defence spenders, are looking for ways to increase defence cooperation ahead of a possible scaling back of US military support for Ukraine if former US President Donald Trump returns to the White House early next year.

The Republican presidential candidate has warned that if elected, he would fundamentally rethink "NATO's purpose and NATO's mission". He has also not committed to sending further aid to Ukraine and said he would not defend allies that do not increase their defence budgets. Trump is locked in a tight race with Vice President Kamala Harris in the Nov. 5 election.

Reuters