Ten years ago, a narrow majority in the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union – it marked a decisive break in European integration, which had previously moved in only one direction. This did not only cause lasting damage to British-European relations, but also to British-German relations.
Bilateral relations over the next ten years were initially very strained. Following the United Kingdom’s final withdrawal from the EU, a degree of normality began to take hold, culminating in the signing of the Treaty of Kensington in July 2025. Cooperation on security and defence policy was the main driving force behind this, whilst exchanges in other fields remain at a standstill.
In the latest issue of Berlin Perspectives, Nicolai von Ondarza traces the development of British-German relations over the ten years since the Brexit referendum. He also analyses the current state of these relations and highlights the balance Germany must strike between bilateral and European interests.
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