Key Takeaways
- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has resigned after intense pressure from Labour Party colleagues.
- German officials viewed Starmer as a reliable partner, especially on Ukraine and post‑Brexit EU relations.
- Brexit, approved in 2016, reshaped UK‑Germany trade, dropping the UK from Germany’s fifth‑largest to ninth‑largest partner.
- Despite trade losses, defense cooperation has revived through the Trinity House agreement (2024) and the Kensington Treaty (2025).
- King Charles’s 2023 state visit highlighted renewed diplomatic warmth, including a Bundestag speech in German.
- Andy Burnham, Starmer’s likely successor, is seen as pro‑EU and pro‑Germany, championing regional partnerships and clean‑energy projects.
- Polls now show a majority of Britons favor EU re‑entry, but no major party is calling for a second referendum.
Starmer’s Resignation Amid Party Pressure
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his resignation after facing mounting criticism from fellow Labour MPs. The decision came after a period of internal dissent over his leadership style and policy direction, particularly concerning the party’s stance on economic issues and its handling of recent electoral setbacks. Starmer’s departure marks the end of a relatively brief but turbulent tenure as prime minister, during which he sought to reposition Labour as a centrist, electable force while navigating the lingering consequences of Brexit.
German Reaction to Starmer’s Departure
In Berlin, the news of Starmer’s resignation was met with a sense of loss. German government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius described Starmer as a “reliable and close partner on foreign policy issues, especially concerning Ukraine.” Berlin valued his pragmatic approach to rebuilding UK‑EU ties after the 2016 referendum, viewing him as a bridge that could smooth over the fissures created by Brexit. German politicians expressed regret that the personal and institutional rapport cultivated under Starmer would now be tested.
Brexit’s Decade‑Long Impact on Germany
It has been ten years since the UK’s EU membership referendum on June 24 2016, when 52 % voted to leave and 48 % to remain. The result shocked Germany, then led by Foreign Minister Frank‑Walter Steinmeier—who called it a “disaster”—and Chancellor Angela Merkel, who termed it a “profound turning point for Europe.” For many Germans, the prospect of losing access to the single market seemed implausible, yet the “take back control” campaign, spearheaded by Boris Johnson, proved more persuasive than anticipated.
Immigration as a Brexit Driver
Immigration played a decisive role in the Brexit vote. Analyst Christophe Fricker of the University of Bristol notes that Merkel’s open‑border policy, introduced in September 2015, granted EU migrants automatic settlement rights in the UK, fueling concerns over sovereignty. Ironically, post‑Brexit immigration to the UK has risen again, albeit largely from non‑EU sources, underscoring the complexity of migration dynamics after the split.
Trade Decline Between the UK and Germany
The economic fallout of Brexit is evident in bilateral trade. According to the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the UK fell from being Germany’s fifth‑largest trading partner in 2016 to ninth place today. While the EU‑UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement governs ongoing commerce, the loss of seamless market access has dampened volumes, especially in sectors such as automotive and machinery that relied heavily on just‑in‑time supply chains.
Lost Defense Ties and Emerging Cooperation
Beyond economics, Fricker laments the erosion of a strong defense partnership that once characterized UK‑German relations. He observes that the personal and civil‑society bonds that facilitated cooperation have “become more difficult and less frequent,” leaving UK youth with a sense that Britain has “vanished off the map” for Germany. Nevertheless, recent years have seen renewed security collaboration, signalling a shift from purely economic concerns to strategic alignment.
New Defense Agreements: Trinity House and Kensington Treaty
In response to shared security challenges, the UK and Germany signed the Trinity House defense agreement in October 2024, aiming to deepen cooperation in defense technology, intelligence sharing, and joint exercises. This framework was expanded in July 2025 by the Kensington Treaty, a broader friendship treaty designed to strengthen political, economic, and societal ties. These accords reflect a mutual recognition that, despite Brexit, the two nations remain indispensable partners in European security architecture.
Royal Diplomacy: King Charles’s 2023 State Visit
Symbolic gestures have also helped revive bilateral goodwill. King Charles’s three‑day state visit to Berlin and Hamburg in March 2023 featured a historic address to the German Bundestag, part of which was delivered in German. The visit underscored the monarchy’s role as a soft‑power asset, reinforcing cultural connections and signalling London’s commitment to maintaining a constructive dialogue with Berlin despite the political upheaval of Brexit.
Andy Burnham: The Pro‑EU, Pro‑Germany Successor
Friedrich Merz (CDU) and the likely Labour successor, Andy Burnham, come from contrasting traditions—conservative versus social‑democratic—but share a pragmatic outlook and staunch support for Ukraine. Linn Selle of the German Council on Foreign Relations highlights Burnham’s reputation as a “staunch pro‑European” who has repeatedly criticised Brexit. As Mayor of Greater Manchester, Burnham championed regional partnerships, signing a 2021 agreement with the Ruhr metropolitan area and, in 2025, launching joint initiatives in hydrogen, cybersecurity, and digital health with German counterparts.
No Immediate Prospects for a Second Referendum
Public opinion has shifted, with polls indicating a majority of Britons now favour remaining in the EU, a trend that appears to be solidifying. Christophe Fricker observes that many voters have come to regard Brexit as a misstep that has harmed the UK economy. Yet, despite this shift, no leading figure from any major British party—including Burnham—has called for a second referendum. Consequently, Germany must continue to work with whatever government emerges in London, seeking to preserve cooperation on trade, defense, and broader European challenges as long as mutual willingness persists.