British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz signed a friendship agreement involving cooperation in defense, transport and resolution of illegal migration.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz signed a contract on friendship and cooperation between Germany and the United Kingdom on Thursday. It focuses on establishing closer cooperation in a wide range of areas, including defense, transport or combating illegal migration. TASR reports this based on DPA and Reuters reports, The Guardian and the BBC.
The contract was signed at the ceremony in Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), where the leaders were accompanied by foreign ministers David Lammy and Johann Wadephul. Merz for Starmer to the United Kingdom arrived the day after the end of the three -day visit of French President Emmanuel Macron, which, according to Reuters, suggests strengthening cooperation between the three greatest European powers in times of threats and uncertainty about alliance with the United States.
Historical deepening of cooperation
“This is a historic day for German-British relationships,” Merz said. “We want to deepen our cooperation in defense, foreign policy, but also economic and domestic policy,” he continued.
The document in its 27 pages also contains a mutual assistance clause in the case of a military threat to one of the two countries. The agreement builds on a defense agreement of last year, according to which the country will cooperate on the development of a long -range weapons.
New Defense Projects
Britain and Germany have committed themselves to “continue the export” of military equipment that they are currently producing together, such as Eurofighter Typhoon and Boxer armored vehicles. According to Reuters, this may be the turnover of Berlin’s policy, which in recent years has not allowed the sale of Tyhoon Turkey fighters or Saudi Arabia.
As part of the deepening of relationships, the German company Stark specializing in defense technology will be built in Britain a new factory that will focus on the production of unmanned systems powered by artificial intelligence (AI).
In addition to defense issues, states have agreed to build a new direct railway between countries, simplifying the visa system for some students and the common fight against illegal migration.
