UK and Europe reach agreement on defense and trade post-Brexit

The United Kingdom and the European Union finalized a significant agreement on fishing rights and defense cooperation on Monday, marking a pivotal moment five years after Brexit.

Nick Thomas-Symonds, the British Cabinet Office minister, disclosed the deal during a summit in London where officials from both sides convened for their primary meeting since the formal departure of the U.K. from the 27-nation trade bloc in 2020, following a narrow referendum result in 2016 calling for the U.K.’s exit. Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government, in collaboration with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and other senior EU leaders, characterized the summit as a crucial step in resetting relations.

“It’s a historic day,” remarked Thomas-Symonds. “After extensive negotiations, I am pleased to announce that the Labour Government has successfully secured a new agreement with the EU.”

Starmer’s chief negotiator said the agreement was good for jobs, bills, borders and more. 

Another issue that has long been a sticking point in U.K.-EU relations is fishing — a symbolically important issue for the U.K. and EU member states such as France. Disputes over the issue nearly derailed a Brexit deal back in 2020. The summit is also expected to cover aligning standards on the sale of agricultural products, which could eliminate costly checks on food products exported across the English Channel. 

Thomas-Symonds told the BBC he was confident that trade could be improved for food imports and exports. 

“We know we’ve had lorries waiting for 16 hours, fresh food in the back not able to be exported, because frankly it’s just going off, red tape, all the certifications that are required, we absolutely want to reduce that,” he reportedly said. 

The New York Times cited an unnamed European diplomat as saying the agreement will allow European boats access to U.K. fishing waters until June 30, 2038. 

Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer, center, stands for a photo with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa, right, ahead of a United Kingdom and European Union summit at Lancaster House, London, Monday, May 19, 2025.  (Henry Nicholls/Pool Photo via AP)

The agreement comes as the return of President Donald Trump brings a greater sense of urgency for cooperation between the U.K. and the bloc, as the incoming U.S. administration takes a new approach to European trade and security, as well as the Ukraine-Russia war. It’s unclear how Trump, who backed Brexit, will react to Starmer’s new deal with the EU. 

“The reset could still be blown off course by disagreements over how to consolidate existing areas of cooperation like fisheries and/or external factors, such as a negative reaction from the U.S. to the U.K. seeking closer ties with the EU,” Jannike Wachowiak, a research associate at the UK in a Changing Europe think tank, told the AP. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.