Bilateral relations in the shadow of Brexit: the case of the UK and Germany

Brexit has led to the bilateralisation of relations between the UK and its European neighbours. However, ten years on, our understanding of how exactly those bilateral relations have been reshaped since Brexit remains limited, particularly in the European context. This paper presents an analysis of how relations between the UK and one of its most important European partners, Germany, have evolved since the Brexit referendum. Our analysis points to a continued, significant role for the EU in structuring bilateral relations with Germany. Drawing on original interviews with senior officials in both governments, EU officials and civil society organisations, we map the key political and institutional dynamics which have shaped the post-Brexit recalibration of this relationship. Our findings reveal that the scope for fundamentally transforming bilateral relationships with EU member states has been highly constrained, as bilateral engagement continues to operate within the institutional and political ‘shadow’ of the EU. By illustrating how multilateral structures continue to shape bilateral diplomacy even after formal withdrawal from the EU, this article advances understanding of post-Brexit foreign relations and makes a broader theoretical contribution to debates on the relationship between bilateralism and multilateralism in contemporary Europe.