Trump win an 'opportunity' for UK to build ties with EU

Leading Brussels politician says US election should 'boost' Anglo-European cooperation on security and military issues

- MILLIE COOKE

The prime minister has been urged to bolster the UK's relationship with the European Union following Donald Trump’s re-election, as a senior EU official argued there is a “big opportunity” for closer ties.

Sandro Gozi, the new chair of the European delegation to the EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly, told The Independent the bloc is looking to put academic cooperation, a youth free-movement deal and conversations about artificial intelligence on the table.

Mr Gozi’s intervention comes as politicians in the UK say the result of the US election should be a “wake-up call” for Sir Keir Starmer after Mr Trump swept to victory on 5 November.

Mr Gozi said the issue of security and defence in Europe is “even more compelling” since the Republican politician’s reelection, amid growing concerns over the president-elect’s commitment to Nato and fears of a global trade war.

He added: “We know that we have a clear common interest in working together more and better on our security. I hope the election of Mr Trump will boost the cooperation between the UK on the security and military dimension.”

Mr Trump has been vocal in his criticisms of Nato, accusing European members of relying on US funding and warning his administration would only come to the aid of its allies if they contribute financially.

“I don’t see why we have a technology dialogue with the US and with India but we don’t have a dialogue with UK,” Mr Gozi said. “These could be new areas of cooperation in the common interest.”