(L-R): David Lammy, UK Foreign Minister; Xavier Bettel, Deputy PM; Credit: MAE

Luxembourg's Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Defence, Cooperation and Foreign Trade has confirmed that earlier today, Monday 10 February 2025, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Xavier Bettel, visited the United Kingdom and had a bilateral meeting with David Lammy, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the United Kingdom. 

According to the ministry, the meeting was an opportunity to review bilateral relations between Luxembourg and the United Kingdom and explore ways to strengthen them.

The two ministers welcomed what the ministry described as the excellent diplomatic relations and regular exchanges provided for in the joint declaration on bilateral cooperation between Luxembourg and the United Kingdom, signed on 11 May 2023 in London. This joint statement aims to further strengthen cooperation between the two countries in the areas of foreign policy, defence, security, human rights, economy and finance, climate change and energy, as well as mobility. The ministers also discussed strengthening cooperation in the sustainable finance sector.

The working meeting was also an opportunity for an in-depth exchange of views on current political issues, including Russian aggression against Ukraine, the situations in the Middle East and in the East of the Democratic Republic of Congo, relations with the United States and relations between the United Kingdom and the European Union. Regarding the reset of relations between the United Kingdom and the European Union, Minister Bettel welcomed the ongoing "rapprochement" and stressed that this is an opportune moment for the implementation of existing agreements, including the United Kingdom's withdrawal agreement from the EU, the Windsor Framework and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

Regarding relations with the United States, the discussion focused on the threat of new customs tariffs and their repercussions. Minister Bettel stressed the importance of transatlantic ties and the opportunities that arise when Europe and the United States join forces, including within the framework of NATO.

Finally, regarding possible peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, the two ministers agreed on the principle of “no agreement on Ukraine without Ukraine”.