UK and Germany sign first bilateral treaty since WWII, focusing on defence

In response to growing threats to Europe, the UK and Germany have signed their first bilateral agreement since World War II, promising to intensify cooperation in the field of defense.

The UK’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz signed the treaty on Thursday that includes provisions for “joint export campaigns” and “mutual assistance” in the event of an attack to sway international orders for military hardware like fighter jets produced jointly by the nations.

Following the signing ceremony at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum, Merz was quoted by the BBC as saying that the UK’s exit from the EU in 2020 is “really on the way to a new chapter.”

At the press conference, Starmer stated, “We see the magnitude of the challenges our continent faces today, and we intend to take them on head on.”

Given that both NATO members and bound by the alliance’s mutual defense pact, it was unclear what practical effect the promise in the treaty would have.

As uncertainty surround the US’s continued support for the continent as Russia’s ongoing offensive in Ukraine looms large, Merz’s visit to London came after French President Emmanuel Macron visited France and the UK to coordinate their nuclear deterrents.

Germany does not possess nuclear weapons, but according to the treaty, the nations will “maintain a close dialogue on defense issues of mutual interest,” including nuclear issues.

Following Donald Trump’s announcement that he would sell US weapons to NATO allies, who would in turn send arms to Kyiv, Merz and Starmer discussed ways to increase European support for Ukraine.

According to Starmer, a plan was in place should there be a ceasefire in Ukraine, and the BBC would need to first agree to bring Russian President Vladimir Putin “to the table for an unconditional ceasefire.”

The so-called “coalition of the willing,” a group of nations led by France, the UK, and Germany, has been discussing the potential deployment of peacekeeping forces to Ukraine to veer off any upcoming peace agreements with Russia.

In light of Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine and Trump’s resumption of power, which has long been sceptical of US intervention on behalf of its historical allies, Western European powers are more focused on how to defend their own continent, especially in light of the perception that the US may no longer be the transatlantic partner it once was.

In addition to protecting itself, the treaty also includes a partnership to combat irregular immigration, which is a part of Starmer’s campaign to reduce the number of asylum seekers entering the UK in an effort to stop the hard-right Reform UK party from rising.

Starmer praised Merz for a new law giving security forces authority to look into storage facilities used by smugglers when they cross the English Channel, and pointed out that the treaty showed the two countries “mean business” when it comes to preventing the arrival of refugees and migrants.