Defence and Security in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement: The Missing Piece

Abstract

This working paper first assesses the UK’s pivotal place in European security and defence and its traditionally ambivalent approach towards the EU’s development of a security and defence policy. It goes on to explain the absence of any immediate EU-UK defence relationship post Brexit, its implications, and the medium-term prospects for such a relationship. It concludes by suggesting that both partners – while suffering a net loss because of Brexit – nonetheless have vital strategic interests in crafting such a bilateral partnership.

Keywords: UK, Brexit, CFSP, CSDP, security, defence, European Union