PNN – The Politico website quoted the British Defense Minister as saying that he intends to strengthen the defense agreement signed between England and France in 2010 due to the increase in threats.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network, this American media added: John Haley, who took over the position of Defense Minister last July following the Labor Party’s impressive victory in Keir Starmer’s government, met with British allies in the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Germany this month.
During this trip, the British Defense Minister described the timing of the renegotiation of the so-called “Lancaster House” defense agreement with France as “appropriate” and said it is certain that the French are looking to increase the level of cooperation.
Haley said, this effort of his country shows the implementation of “promises before the election” and our government will restore British relations with Europe, especially with the leading European countries.
Immediately after becoming Prime Minister, Starmer said he was looking for “a new approach to readjusting Britain’s relationship with Europe, including new security arrangements with the European Union.”
The Lancaster House Agreement was signed in 2010 by David Cameron, the conservative Prime Minister of England, and Nicolas Sarkozy, the President of France, and based on that, the two countries committed to closer cooperation between their armed forces in the development of military equipment.
Quoting two officials familiar with the plans of the two countries, which coincided with the 15th anniversary of the signing of this agreement, Politico claimed that the updated version of this defense agreement focuses on strengthening cooperation between the two countries in the shadow of Russia’s hostility.
One of these officials – who asked not to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter – explained that the plan is part of a wider effort to recognize “the role of defense issues in diplomacy” and in the context of the Starmer government’s plans to restore relations with the European Union.
A French diplomat familiar with the London-Paris talks said: We are very pleased with our initial contacts with the Starmer government. Since winning the election three months ago, the new British Prime Minister has had three bilateral meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron in Washington DC, UK and France.
Macron told Starmer that the issue of security and defense is key and we now have the Lancaster House agreement and we need to strengthen it, the French diplomat said.
Relations with Germany
In another part of its report, Politico wrote, quoting an official familiar with London’s plans: Separately, a British negotiating team arrived in Berlin this week to begin negotiations on the details of the bilateral agreement announced by Starmer and German Chancellor Olaf Schultz at the recent NATO summit.
Strengthening cooperation in the production of long-range missiles is expected to be the priority of these negotiations, and as part of their new duties in this country, Germany and England will try to convince the voters to increase the defense budget.
Starmer appears to be interested in helping the image of Macron and Schultz, who are both facing domestic pressure from anti-Eurostic movements.
The White House has also welcomed the approach of the new British Prime Minister to restore relations with the European Union.