A man holds an American flag depicting President-elect Trump in Parliament Square, London.
Jeff J. Mitchell | Getty Images News | Getty Images
Public sentiment also appears to be shifting in favor of closer ties across the continent as leaders of Britain and the European Union seek to reset ties ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House, a new survey shows.
Research from the European Council on Foreign Relations on Thursday showed that a majority of Britons (55%) believe the UK should realign with the EU during Trump’s second term and prioritize strengthening ties with Brussels over the United States (17%). The UK is also unwilling to follow Trump’s lead on major foreign policy issues such as China and Ukraine.
Across the continent, the feeling is mutual, with many respondents in EU countries, particularly Germany and Poland, supporting closer ties with the UK
The research, conducted in the wake of the US election, aims to provide an update on public views on Brexit more than eight years after the landmark referendum.
Days earlier, British Finance Minister Rachel Reeves talked about reviving ties with Brussels during a meeting with EU counterparts on Monday, the first such meeting since Britain officially left the bloc in 2020.
“We no longer live in a Brexit world. That world will begin in November 2024,” ECFR co-founder and foreign policy expert Mark Leonard said at an event in London to announce the findings. Ends on the 5th.
“There is a strong and widespread desire on both sides of the Taiwan Strait to be more closely connected,” he added.
The survey of more than 9,000 people in the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Spain showed a particular willingness to work closer on trade and security.
If the UK is forced to choose between the US and the EU… it could be a binary choice
Helle Thorning-Schmidt
former prime minister of denmark
In the UK, the majority of respondents said they believed improved relations would help them address key priorities such as immigration, security and the economy. At the same time, European respondents said they were willing to give the UK “special access” to the EU single market and the opportunity to participate in EU research projects in exchange for greater security cooperation.
Both sides also expressed a willingness to consider free movement of people in exchange for stronger economic ties.
Trump’s tariffs create ‘binary’ choice
Trump’s Nov. 5 election increases There is unease in Europe, particularly around national security and the impact of potential tariffs, with the president-elect previously warning that the EU could impose new trade taxes to address a severe trade imbalance.
Meanwhile, Britain, which has a much smaller trade imbalance with the United States, may hope that its transatlantic “special relationship” – and Trump’s affinity for Brexit – is enough to shield it from the most punitive measures.
Former Danish Prime Minister and ECFR Board Trustee Helle Thorning-Schmidt told CNBC that the UK is expected to pursue “the closest possible relationship with the United States”, which is also in the UK’s interests. But she said this should not hamper close ties with the EU.
“If we are looking to recalibrate, now is a good time,” she said, noting that the current backdrop might actually improve the UK’s position as it seeks to improve its relationship with the EU. “Now (the UK) may have the leverage to ask for a little more.”
However, Thorning-Schmidt, who served as chancellor from 2011 to 2015, acknowledged that there may be some “binary” choices ahead as both parties seek to position themselves under Trump’s presidency.
“If we impose tariffs, will we retaliate? Is that an answer?” Thorning-Schmidt said.
“If we are asked to be more consistent with the United States on China policy, that may also be a binary choice,” she continued.
“If the UK is forced to choose between the US and the EU – which I don’t think they will – it could be a binary choice.”
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