The German foreign minister has said the UK's European Union partners should resist the temptation to be excessively tough on London as it negotiates its exit from the 28-nation bloc.
Sigmar Gabriel told the Munich Security Conference he regrets very much Britain's decision to leave, but "we must respect it".
He added: "We should resist the temptation to treat Britain overly harshly - not out of pity, but in our own interest.
"We need Britain, for example, as a partner in security policy, and I am also convinced that Britain needs us."
Mr Gabriel is also Germany's vice chancellor.