Is the London-Brussels agreement a “reset” or a “humiliation”?

Five years after Brexit, the United Kingdom and the European Union concluded a security and defense partnership at a summit held in London on Monday, May 19. The agreement, which also allows European vessels to fish in British waters, has provoked fury in sections of the British press.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during a joint press conference announcing the signing of a strategic partnership between the United Kingdom and the European Union, on May 19, 2025, in London. Photo CARL COURT/AFP

The United Kingdom and the European Union (EU) have concluded a "new strategic partnership" on security and defense, during an unprecedented summit on Monday, May 19, in London. This agreement is part of "a broader overhaul of relations between London and Brussels, after several years of tension following Brexit , " explains the European news site Politico .

“It’s time to move on, to move beyond tired debates and old political arguments, to find practical, common-sense answers that will deliver the best solutions for the British people. We are ready to cooperate with certain partners,” Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer was quoted as saying by The Guardian . The agreement covers a wide range of issues, from defense to energy, tourism, and the thorny issue of fishing zones.

London will, for example, be able to participate in EU ministerial meetings and join certain European military missions. British companies will also have access to the future €150 billion European program aimed at developing the EU's defense industrial base.