The atmosphere at the EU-UK defence and security dialogue felt less like a standard diplomatic summit and more like a meeting between two parties reflecting on a shared, regrettable past. Kallas highlighted the lingering trauma felt by European officials, while Streeting offered a blunt assessment of the fallout, admitting that the departure left the British economy diminished and the nation’s overall standing weakened compared to its previous position.
Post-Brexit regrets signal a quiet shift in UK-EU relations
The decade-long silence surrounding Britain’s potential return to the European Union is finally breaking. In Brussels this Monday, UK defence secretary Wes Streeting and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas adopted a tone of mutual reconciliation, publicly acknowledging the economic and strategic wounds left by the painful separation process.
This exchange marks a departure from years of defensive posturing. By confronting the reality of the economic cost, the current government is signaling a willingness to reset ties that were severed in the wake of the 2016 referendum. While formal accession remains a distant prospect, the shift in rhetoric suggests that the taboo against discussing a future integration path has effectively dissolved.
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