European Union (EU) foreign Policy Chief, Kaja Kallas, has called for closer ties with the United Kingdom.
Kallas, in an address to EU ambassadors in Brussels on Monday, stressed that cooperation on defence was the next logical step in relations with the former EU member.
EU leaders would hold talks with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer over dinner in Brussels on Monday evening in the first meeting of its kind since the UK left the bloc five years ago.
The talks were expected to focus on defence and on countering a growing threat from Russia.
The EU heads are holding a joint meeting before the dinner with Starmer.
Some EU members see cooperation with the UK on defence as problematic, with France in particular putting a brake on negotiations.
EU heads are to also discuss relations with the United States in response to moves by President Donald Trump’s administration to erect tariff barriers on imports from the EU.
The U.S. over the weekend imposed tariffs on imports from its direct neighbours, Canada and Mexico, and on China. (dpa/NAN)
