Britain seeks collaboration with Germany during Merz's notable visit to combat illegal land border trafficking organizations
In a significant step towards strengthening post-Brexit ties, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz have signed the Treaty on Friendship and Bilateral Cooperation in London on July 17, 2025. The agreement, which marks a new chapter in UK-EU relations, focuses on enhancing cooperation in various key areas.
The treaty, signed at the Victoria and Albert Museum, emphasises defense cooperation, echoing the model of close bilateral alignment seen in the Franco-German relationship. It includes mutual assistance clauses to bolster trans-European unity in the face of global challenges. The leaders are expected to announce a deal to jointly produce military goods such as Boxer armored vehicles and Typhoon jets.
The treaty also aims to pave the way for greater defense cooperation, including operations on NATO's eastern flank. It is anticipated that this cooperation could lead to "billions of pounds of additional defense exports".
In addition to defense, the treaty seeks to enhance bilateral cooperation across various sectors. While specific details on student exchange programs are not outlined, the treaty's broader aim is to foster educational exchanges as part of its commitment to fostering closer relations between the two nations.
The treaty includes 17 priority projects, such as Ukraine recovery and reconstruction and collaboration between public financial institutions to boost economic growth.
The agreement's focus on enhancing cooperation in areas like security and mutual assistance suggests that it may indirectly address issues related to migration by strengthening overall bilateral collaboration. However, there is no direct mention of illegal migration in the available information about the treaty.
The friendship deal between the UK and Germany is welcomed by Prime Minister Starmer, who stated that it is a "foundation on which we go further to tackle shared problems". Chancellor Scholz's commitment to disrupt the supply lines of vessels carrying illegal migrants across the Channel is also welcomed by Prime Minister Starmer.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul accompanied Merz and met with his British counterpart, David Lammy. Last month, Eurostar announced plans to launch a new route from London to Frankfurt in the early 2030s - the first such direct connection between the UK and Germany.
This is Chancellor Merz's first visit to the UK as chancellor. The signing of the treaty comes after French President Emmanuel Macron's state visit to the country in early July, which was the first state visit by a European Union head of state since Brexit.
The treaty marks a significant reset in UK-EU relations post-Brexit and reflects efforts by European powers to enhance trilateral ties, particularly in light of global uncertainties and evolving threats. The leaders are to discuss continued support for Ukraine, with both countries expected to play a role in US President Donald Trump's plan to send weapons to Kyiv with financing from other NATO countries.
References: [1] BBC News. (2025, July 17). UK and Germany sign 'friendship treaty'. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-62390098 [2] The Guardian. (2025, July 17). UK and Germany sign landmark post-Brexit 'friendship treaty'. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/jul/17/uk-and-germany-sign-landmark-post-brexit-friendship-treaty
- The treaty's emphasis on security cooperation and mutual assistance could potentially indirectly address issues related to migration by bolstering overall bilateral collaboration, as PM Starmer stated.
- The friendship deal between the UK and Germany, welcomed by PM Starmer, includes Chancellor Scholz's commitment to disrupt the supply lines of vessels carrying illegal migrants across the Channel.
- The potential for increased cooperation between UK and German public financial institutions, as part of the 17 priority projects outlined in the treaty, may extend to areas such as crime and justice, in line with general news reports.
