David Lammy\u2019s whirlwind first trip as foreign secretary, organised at very short notice, is not about instant results or even brave new horizons.<\/p>\n
It is all about perception \u2013 the appearance of a new, vigorous administration, determined to hit the ground running, brimming with goodwill towards some of the UK\u2019s most important partners.<\/p>\n
After an evening spent with his German counterpart, Annalena Baerbock \u2013 the two found time to watch a few minutes of England\u2019s European Championship quarter-final \u2013 Mr Lammy\u2019s tour moved to the bucolic surroundings of the country estate of Poland\u2019s Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorsky.<\/p>\n
After a couple of hours of talks, it was back on the plane for a short flight north to one of Nato\u2019s newest members, Sweden.<\/p>\n
Why Germany, Poland and Sweden?<\/p>\n
Partly because of Ukraine. Along with Britain, all three countries play important roles in sustaining Kyiv\u2019s war effort. With the new Defence Secretary John Healey on the ground in Odesa, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer\u2019s government is keen to stress that the UK\u2019s commitment to Ukraine will remain rock solid.<\/p>\n
Following a meeting with President Zelensky and his counterpart Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, Mr Healey said the UK would provide more artillery guns, a quarter-of-a-million ammunition rounds and nearly 100 precision Brimstone missiles.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere may have been a change in government, but the UK is united for Ukraine,\u201d he said, promising to \u201creinvigorate\u201d support via increased military aid.<\/p>\n
He also pledged to fast-track the reinforcements to ensure they arrive with the next 100 days.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to double down on our commitment to Ukraine,\u201d Mr Lammy said, as dragonflies swooped over a tranquil lake and a pair of majestic eagles circled overhead.<\/p>\n
France, in the midst of its own election \u2013 one which seems destined to have far-reaching consequences \u2013 was not on the itinerary. Not this weekend.<\/p>\n
No stop in Brussels, either. Sir Keir has said the UK will not return to the EU \u201cin my lifetime\u201d.<\/p>\n
But Poland and Sweden are both key European partners and fellow Nato members \u2013 good places for the foreign secretary to start exploring the outlines of closer future relations.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to reset both our bilateral relationship and our relationship with the European Union,\u201d Mr Lammy said, adding a reference to Labour\u2019s still rather nebulous pledge to strike a new EU-UK security pact.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, on a visit to Edinburgh on Sunday, the prime minister said work was already under way to improve the UK\u2019s relationship with the EU.<\/p>\n
He said his government \u201ccan get a much better deal than the botched deal that Boris Johnson saddled the UK with\u201d.<\/p>\n
Mr Lammy said that when European leaders gather at Blenheim Palace on 18 July for the next meeting of the European Political Community (established by Emmanuel Macron in the wake of Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine), \u201cthe new spirit of co-operation will be on show\u201d.<\/p>\n
The trip comes just days before Sir Keir takes his own first steps on the international stage as prime minister, at the Nato summit in Washington DC.<\/p>\n
These are tricky times to be shoring up relationships, with France taking a lurch to the right and the US possibly on the verge of returning the unpredictable Donald Trump to office.<\/p>\n
Mr Lammy agreed this was a \u201ctough geopolitical moment\u201d, but said it was important not to confuse disagreements between mature democracies with the threats posed by authoritarian regimes.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am concerned when I see Iranian drones turning up in Ukraine,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am concerned when I see shells from North Korea being used here on European soil.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd of course I\u2019m concerned with the partnership that I see Russia brokering across those authoritarian states.\u201d<\/p>\n
Other issues hang heavy over the new foreign secretary\u2019s first trip, in particular the war in Gaza.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n