Germany And The UK Have Concluded A Strategic Pact
2- 17.07.2025, 18:30
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The document was signed in London by Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Germany and Britain have concluded a strategic pact of friendship and bilateral cooperation - 80 years after the end of World War II. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer signed the pact on Thursday, July 17, in London.
"We want to cooperate more closely in the fields of defense, foreign policy, and economic and domestic policy," Merz stressed.
Starmer met with French President Emmanuel Macron last week. As specified by Reuters, the rapprochement also emerged within the framework of the E3, an informal mechanism for cooperation between London, Berlin and Paris in the field of foreign policy and security.
Deterrence and defense on NATO's northern and eastern flanks
According to Politico, Germany can thus count on the help of both nuclear powers, thus strengthening Europe's deterrent potential without reliance on the United States.
In addition, deterrence and defense on NATO's northern and eastern flanks are to be strengthened. Finally, armaments cooperation is supposed to be strengthened. Berlin and London have already announced in May that they want to work together on missiles with a range of around 2,000 kilometers.
Fighting illegal migration
As part of the agreement, London is hoping for Berlin's support in the fight against illegal migration. The FRG wants to amend legislation to put an end to the "transportation of illegal migrants across the Channel".
According to PA Media and dpa, Germany has also agreed to allow some air passengers arriving from the UK to go through passport control at special electronic counters - without staff present. This will affect British nationals who fly regularly to the FRG. All Britons will be covered by the mechanism after Germany completes the protracted modernization of its EES entry and exit systems in line with EU regulations.
The pact was negotiated in 18 rounds of talks
The foundation of the German-UK defense pact was laid in the summer of 2024 by Starmer and incumbent German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who signed a joint declaration to deepen cooperation on peace, security and economic growth. The provisions of the treaty were then worked out in 18 rounds of negotiations. The document, in particular, was to stipulate that a strategic threat to one country would also pose a threat to the other, Politico reported.