Trump's tough policies push UK, EU to significantly expand trade and defense

Nearly a decennary aft the United Kingdom (U.K.) voted to permission the European Union (EU) nether Brexit and amid shifting relations with the U.S. nether President Donald Trump, Britain and the EU importantly bolstered their commercialized and defence concern connected Monday. 

In what is the largest woody the bloc and the U.K. person agreed to since the arguable Brexit ballot successful 2016, the 2 economical powerhouses agreed to summation defence ties and slash reddish tape, making it not lone easier for U.K. nutrient and visitors to entree the continent, but besides granting sportfishing rights to EU vessels disconnected of Britian’s coastline. 

The agreements person been described arsenic a "reset" and championed by U.K. Prime Minister Kier Starmer, who opposed Brexit, and EU leader, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who said, "At a clip of planetary instability, and when our continent faces the top menace it has for generations, we in Europe instrumentality together."

TRUMP IS COMMITTED TO 10% BASELINE TARIFF, WHITE HOUSE SAYS, DESPITE UK TRADE DEAL ANNOUNCEMENT

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer, center, stands for a photograph with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa up of a United Kingdom and European Union acme astatine Lancaster House successful London connected Monday, May 19, 2025. (Henry Nicholls/Pool Photo via AP)

While the U.K. talked down the Trump administration’s 25% "reciprocal" tariffs earlier this period to bounds the fees to 10% connected up to 100,000 car exports to the U.S. – the U.K.’s main export point to the States – the EU has reached nary specified statement with Washington and faces 20% tariffs connected each U.S. exports travel July. 

While EU and U.S. officials are inactive moving to find an agreement, reports connected Monday suggested that adjacent the existing 10% tariff slapped connected the EU implicit the past 50 days has near a antagonistic people and the bloc anticipates a driblet successful growth for 2025.

However, it is not lone Trump’s tariffs that person pushed Western allies to fortify relations pursuing his re-entry into the White House. 

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A Fox News graphic that depicts however countries person responded to President Donald Trump's tariffs. (Fox News / MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Trump’s hardline propulsion for accrued NATO defence spending, on with his crisp interruption from the Biden medication connected Ukraine aid, near European allies scrambling aft his inauguration.

While the Trump medication has seemingly improved ties with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Trump’s refusal to outright condemn Russian President Vladimir Putin has resulted successful stronger ties betwixt apical nations similar the U.K., France and Germany, arsenic good arsenic wrong the EU bloc.

At the bosom of the caller defence statement is the U.K.’s quality to entree an EU defence indebtedness programme worthy astir $170 billion, expanding associated defence procurement opportunities. 

From near to right, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz get to enactment flowers connected memorial of fallen Ukrainian soldiers astatine Independence Square successful Kyiv, Ukraine, connected Saturday, May 10, 2025. Ukrainian archetypal woman Olena Zelenska is seen behind, 2nd right.  (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

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"Britain is backmost connected the satellite stage," Starmer said. "This woody is simply a win-win."

Far-right conservatives successful the UK similar Nigel Farage, an ardent proponent of BREXIT, person condemned the precocious announced deal. 

The White House did not instantly respond to Fox News Digital's questions. 

Reuters contributed to this report.