Brussels still 'traumatised' by Brexit, EU foreign policy chief warns

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has insisted the UK should first focus on collaborating with the EU on defence before developing relations in other areas. Kallas was speaking during a meeting with British Defence Secretary Wes Streeting as the two sides seek closer cooperation ahead of a EU-UK summit on November 20. The discussions focused on Russia's continued aggression across Europe, including hybrid attacks, and Europe's growing responsibility for providing military support to Ukraine. Both sides also addressed the future of Europe's defence industrial base. However, Streeting warned against the EU adopting a protectionist approach. What we need to be careful of avoiding is that that focus doesn't, which I think is healthy and necessary and in our shared interests as well as our national interests, doesn't spread into self-defeating protectionism. I think that's the danger we need to avoid because the stronger we are together, the more likely we are to deter Russia and other threats. His comments were directed in part at the bloc's proposed Made in Europe industrial drive, which seeks to prioritise European manufacturers across important sectors, including defence. The UK is currently outside the initiative because it is no longer part of the EU's single market. London declined to join the EU's 150 billion euros Security action for Europe defense loan scheme last year.