EU ‘will offer Boris Johnson a new defense and security agreement’

Brussels is ready to ask boris johnson Claimed today to have agreed a Defense and Security Agreement with the European Union.

Mark Rutte, Dutch The Prime Minister is due to meet Mr Johnson for a working dinner Downing Street this evening.

Reports suggest Mr Rutte will give Mr Johnson a chance to work closely with the EU on defense and security matters.

The UK proposal will be seen as a direct response to European unease over the way out of the US Afghanistan.

The Dutch Prime Minister, Mark Rutte, is expected to make the offer when he meets Mr Johnson for a working dinner in Downing Street this evening

Mr Johnson and other European NATO leaders urged Joe Biden to delay the US withdrawal from Kabul to provide more time for a humanitarian airlift.

But the requests were turned down and the US President opted to go ahead with his tough deadline of August 31.

That decision left lawmakers wondering whether Britain’s foreign policy, long tied to Washington’s actions, was at a crossroads.

European Union seniors now want to develop the ability to act militarily without being dependent on the US.

Defense cooperation was not included in the Brexit talks, but Brussels now believes the UK may be more open to working together.

A diplomatic source told The Times: ‘Afghanistan is a catalyst for further discussions on European defense cooperation, preferably involving the UK.

‘Since Brexit, not enough European leaders have been in touch with Johnson.

‘It is important to see geopolitics undivided and there is a need to work with the UK.’

Despite the French anger over the new security deal agreed by Britain, the US and Australia, both France and Germany are said to be with a proposal to be made by Mr Rutte.

One source said the Dutch could be ‘a bridge’ between the UK and the rest of the EU ‘but we will have to see if British leaders are interested, first and foremost if there is fertile soil for the proposal’.

The proposal will be seen as a direct response to European uneasiness over the way the US will exit Afghanistan.

The prime minister’s official spokesman did not heed the reports, but said: ‘I have clearly seen the speculation reporting this morning but I am not going to say what he will say.

‘We maintain a strong defense relationship with the European Union and individual EU member states.

‘Clearly we have always been clear that NATO remains a cornerstone of Euro-Atlantic security and that we are the largest European contributor to it.’