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Truss Meets With European Leaders, Signaling Thaw in Relations Truss Meets With European Leaders, Signaling Thaw in Relations
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LONDON — Six weeks ago, Prime Minister Liz Truss of Britain refused to say whether President Emmanuel Macron of France was friend or foe. On Thursday, she turned up in Prague at the maiden meeting of Mr. Macron’s European Political Community, suggesting, on balance, that she’d rather be friends.LONDON — Six weeks ago, Prime Minister Liz Truss of Britain refused to say whether President Emmanuel Macron of France was friend or foe. On Thursday, she turned up in Prague at the maiden meeting of Mr. Macron’s European Political Community, suggesting, on balance, that she’d rather be friends.
Ms. Truss’s appearance at the gathering of 44 nations was the latest in a perceptible warming trend toward Europe in the new British government. Whether it represents a genuine change of heart — or merely a government too preoccupied by economic problems to pick more fights across the English Channel — was not yet clear.Ms. Truss’s appearance at the gathering of 44 nations was the latest in a perceptible warming trend toward Europe in the new British government. Whether it represents a genuine change of heart — or merely a government too preoccupied by economic problems to pick more fights across the English Channel — was not yet clear.
But former diplomats and political analysts said the improved mood music could lead to more tangible results, as Britain begins to define a post-Brexit relationship with its European neighbors. Ms. Truss, who had been skeptical of Mr. Macron’s new project, came around, she said, because the meeting focused on issues like security, energy, and migration, which are important to Britain. But former diplomats and political analysts said the improved mood music could lead to more tangible results, as Britain begins to define a post-Brexit relationship with its European neighbors. Ms. Truss, who had been skeptical of Mr. Macron’s new project, came around, she said, because the meeting focused on issues like security, energy and migration, which are important to Britain.
“She convinced herself that this was sufficiently decoupled from the E.U. to be worth doing, and that it was sufficiently coupled with Ukraine to make it important,” said Peter Ricketts, a former British national security adviser and ambassador to France. “There are these signs of détente,” he added.“She convinced herself that this was sufficiently decoupled from the E.U. to be worth doing, and that it was sufficiently coupled with Ukraine to make it important,” said Peter Ricketts, a former British national security adviser and ambassador to France. “There are these signs of détente,” he added.
Britain has also reopened negotiations with the European Union over changing the trade rules in Northern Ireland. This has been a recurring source of friction since Ms. Truss’s predecessor, Boris Johnson, agreed to a deal with the European Union that required border checks on goods flowing from mainland Britain to Northern Ireland — only to demand later that the rules be overhauled.Britain has also reopened negotiations with the European Union over changing the trade rules in Northern Ireland. This has been a recurring source of friction since Ms. Truss’s predecessor, Boris Johnson, agreed to a deal with the European Union that required border checks on goods flowing from mainland Britain to Northern Ireland — only to demand later that the rules be overhauled.
Negotiations faltered under Ms. Truss when she was foreign secretary, and she introduced legislation that would unilaterally upend the trade arrangements, known as the Northern Ireland Protocol. But the atmosphere for talks has improved since then, even if significant gaps remain and the legislation, which has deeply antagonized Brussels, continues to make its way through Parliament.Negotiations faltered under Ms. Truss when she was foreign secretary, and she introduced legislation that would unilaterally upend the trade arrangements, known as the Northern Ireland Protocol. But the atmosphere for talks has improved since then, even if significant gaps remain and the legislation, which has deeply antagonized Brussels, continues to make its way through Parliament.
Steve Baker, a hard-line Brexit supporter whom Ms. Truss named as a mid-ranking minister for Northern Ireland, apologized this week for the vitriolic language used by him and other Brexit campaigners during the debate about leaving the European Union. He said it had contributed to poisoning relations with Brussels and Dublin.Steve Baker, a hard-line Brexit supporter whom Ms. Truss named as a mid-ranking minister for Northern Ireland, apologized this week for the vitriolic language used by him and other Brexit campaigners during the debate about leaving the European Union. He said it had contributed to poisoning relations with Brussels and Dublin.
“I want to accept and acknowledge that I and others did not always behave in a way which encouraged Ireland and the European Union to trust us to accept that they have legitimate interests,” Mr. Baker said.“I want to accept and acknowledge that I and others did not always behave in a way which encouraged Ireland and the European Union to trust us to accept that they have legitimate interests,” Mr. Baker said.
Skeptics said Mr. Baker’s contrition may be tactical, given his new job title. But it also raises the potential for a Nixon-in-China moment on Northern Ireland. If Mr. Baker were part of a negotiated agreement with the European Union, it would increase the odds that such a deal would satisfy other hard-liners in the Conservative Party.Skeptics said Mr. Baker’s contrition may be tactical, given his new job title. But it also raises the potential for a Nixon-in-China moment on Northern Ireland. If Mr. Baker were part of a negotiated agreement with the European Union, it would increase the odds that such a deal would satisfy other hard-liners in the Conservative Party.
Mr. Ricketts said there was a window for London and Brussels to hammer out a deal while the legislation that would overturn the trade rules unilaterally comes before the House of Lords, where he is a member. Many of the lords view the legislation as a breach of international law and a power grab on the part of ministers, and they will try to amend it, even if they cannot block it entirely.Mr. Ricketts said there was a window for London and Brussels to hammer out a deal while the legislation that would overturn the trade rules unilaterally comes before the House of Lords, where he is a member. Many of the lords view the legislation as a breach of international law and a power grab on the part of ministers, and they will try to amend it, even if they cannot block it entirely.
“We’re going to savage it,” Mr. Ricketts said.“We’re going to savage it,” Mr. Ricketts said.
An agreement on the protocol would also remove a source of friction between Britain and the Biden administration, which has made clear its concerns about the simmering tensions over Northern Ireland. Meeting with British officials on Thursday, Derek Chollet, a senior State Department official, urged both sides to seek a solution, the second time in six months he has delivered that message.An agreement on the protocol would also remove a source of friction between Britain and the Biden administration, which has made clear its concerns about the simmering tensions over Northern Ireland. Meeting with British officials on Thursday, Derek Chollet, a senior State Department official, urged both sides to seek a solution, the second time in six months he has delivered that message.
But other experts pointed out that despite months of efforts to close the gaps, there were still major differences over the trade arrangements. “I don’t think either side has shown the willingness to compromise on these issues,” said Anand Menon, professor of European politics at King’s College London.But other experts pointed out that despite months of efforts to close the gaps, there were still major differences over the trade arrangements. “I don’t think either side has shown the willingness to compromise on these issues,” said Anand Menon, professor of European politics at King’s College London.
Moreover, he said, Ms. Truss could provoke new tensions with Brussels with her free-market economic agenda. Stripping away regulations, as she has promised, could trigger “level playing field” provisions in Britain’s broader trade agreement with the European Union, which are designed to prevent too much divergence.Moreover, he said, Ms. Truss could provoke new tensions with Brussels with her free-market economic agenda. Stripping away regulations, as she has promised, could trigger “level playing field” provisions in Britain’s broader trade agreement with the European Union, which are designed to prevent too much divergence.
During its protracted Brexit negotiations, Britain rejected requests for talks on security cooperation. Mr. Johnson initially appeared skeptical of Mr. Macron’s idea of a wide political alliance of nations. But he later seemed to warm to it, even claiming “paternity” for the notion of a new forum for pan European cooperation.During its protracted Brexit negotiations, Britain rejected requests for talks on security cooperation. Mr. Johnson initially appeared skeptical of Mr. Macron’s idea of a wide political alliance of nations. But he later seemed to warm to it, even claiming “paternity” for the notion of a new forum for pan European cooperation.
“It creates a novel format for the two sides to re-engage in a way that hasn’t been available since Brexit,” said Mujtaba Rahman, an analyst with the Eurasia Group, a political risk consultancy.“It creates a novel format for the two sides to re-engage in a way that hasn’t been available since Brexit,” said Mujtaba Rahman, an analyst with the Eurasia Group, a political risk consultancy.
Given the political and financial-market blowback to her tax-cutting agenda, he said, Ms. Truss no longer has the bandwidth to deal with rising tensions with the European Union or the threat of a trade war over Northern Ireland.Given the political and financial-market blowback to her tax-cutting agenda, he said, Ms. Truss no longer has the bandwidth to deal with rising tensions with the European Union or the threat of a trade war over Northern Ireland.
In March, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Ms. Truss attended a meeting with European foreign ministers — a decision that, at the time, was seen as an icebreaker after the poisonous fallout over Brexit.In March, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Ms. Truss attended a meeting with European foreign ministers — a decision that, at the time, was seen as an icebreaker after the poisonous fallout over Brexit.
But Thursday’s meeting was particularly significant because Mr. Macron’s concept of a European Political Community would not have been credible without British participation, said Sophia Gaston, a foreign policy specialist and a senior fellow at Policy Exchange, a research group. At the same time, Britain has had to recalibrate its foreign policy since it outlined a post-Brexit framework that said very little about Europe, just before a major war broke out there.But Thursday’s meeting was particularly significant because Mr. Macron’s concept of a European Political Community would not have been credible without British participation, said Sophia Gaston, a foreign policy specialist and a senior fellow at Policy Exchange, a research group. At the same time, Britain has had to recalibrate its foreign policy since it outlined a post-Brexit framework that said very little about Europe, just before a major war broke out there.
“The Ukrainian situation has in some ways forced the question both for us and for the E.U.,” Ms. Gaston said. “In my view, attending the E.P.C. is the actualization of Brexit, with both the E.U. and the U.K. accepting that this has happened and looking to the future.”“The Ukrainian situation has in some ways forced the question both for us and for the E.U.,” Ms. Gaston said. “In my view, attending the E.P.C. is the actualization of Brexit, with both the E.U. and the U.K. accepting that this has happened and looking to the future.”
With its strong military, leading role in NATO, seat on the United Nations Security Council and economic and diplomatic heft, Britain is well aware of the assets it brings to the table. But it has also identified things it wants in return, including cooperation on protecting supply chains, energy security and migration.With its strong military, leading role in NATO, seat on the United Nations Security Council and economic and diplomatic heft, Britain is well aware of the assets it brings to the table. But it has also identified things it wants in return, including cooperation on protecting supply chains, energy security and migration.
These issues, Ms. Gaston said, could prove “incredibly important” to Ms. Truss, who faces an acute cost-of-living crisis and potential power shortages in Britain this winter as Russia’s war grinds on. Her government is also desperate to curb the flow of asylum seekers crossing the English Channel on small boats.These issues, Ms. Gaston said, could prove “incredibly important” to Ms. Truss, who faces an acute cost-of-living crisis and potential power shortages in Britain this winter as Russia’s war grinds on. Her government is also desperate to curb the flow of asylum seekers crossing the English Channel on small boats.
From the continent, Ms. Truss and her government may appear weak and politically divided. Her much-criticized refusal to declare Mr. Macron as friend or foe came during a closely fought contest for leader of the Conservative Party, which left her as a victor with an uncertain grip on power.From the continent, Ms. Truss and her government may appear weak and politically divided. Her much-criticized refusal to declare Mr. Macron as friend or foe came during a closely fought contest for leader of the Conservative Party, which left her as a victor with an uncertain grip on power.
But her participation in Mr. Macron’s meeting sets a precedent that the opposition Labour Party seems likely to build on if it wins the next general election.But her participation in Mr. Macron’s meeting sets a precedent that the opposition Labour Party seems likely to build on if it wins the next general election.
The party’s foreign affairs spokesman, David Lammy, said Thursday that “in government, Labour would be leading these conversations not following them. We would start by proposing a new U.K.-E.U. security pact, to complement NATO ties and keep the public safe in an uncertain world.”The party’s foreign affairs spokesman, David Lammy, said Thursday that “in government, Labour would be leading these conversations not following them. We would start by proposing a new U.K.-E.U. security pact, to complement NATO ties and keep the public safe in an uncertain world.”