The United Kingdom and the European Union are close to concluding agreements to boost military and trade ties as they seek to mend ties disturbed by Brexit.
The British government announced on Monday that new agreements had been sealed on defence cooperation, food trade and border checks. The announcement came as Prime Minister Keir Starmer prepared to host the leaders of the 27-member EU, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa in the first formal summit since the UK left the bloc in 2020.
