Deepening of friendship sought by Germany and Britain
On July 17, 2025, the United Kingdom and Germany marked a significant milestone in their relations with the signing of the Treaty on Friendship and Bilateral Cooperation. The treaty, which follows years of Brexit-related strain, is designed to rebuild trust and collaboration between two of Europe's most influential nations [1][2][4].
The treaty is rooted in a shared vision for prosperity, security, and sustainability, and tackles the challenges of heightened geopolitical competition, threats to the rules-based international order, and democratic resilience, particularly in response to Russian aggression in Europe [4].
**Key Elements of the Treaty**
The comprehensive partnership established by the treaty spans foreign, defense, economic, societal, and security domains. It is operationalized through an Implementation Plan, detailing 17 priority projects covering the breadth of bilateral cooperation, with biannual reviews by a Joint Cabinet [1][2]. The core objective is to deliver tangible benefits for citizens of both countries in a more confrontational global environment [1][2].
**Foreign and Defense Policy**
The treaty codifies a long-term, deep defense partnership, building on the 2024 Trinity House Agreement. This includes joint development of a Deep Precision Strike capability as a European conventional deterrent and close cooperation within NATO. The parties also pledge to come to each other’s aid in the event of an attack, reinforcing their commitment as NATO allies [2][3].
The UK and Germany have agreed to joint export campaigns for military equipment, such as Boxer armored vehicles and Typhoon jets, and will co-develop a deep precision strike missile over the next decade. Both countries, as leading European supporters of Ukraine, have committed to coordinated efforts on Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction [1][2].
**Economic and Financial Ties**
The treaty is expected to unlock a series of investment deals, leveraging the economic weight of both countries as the two largest European economies outside the EU. Enhanced cooperation between financial institutions aims to mobilize private capital, develop sustainable markets, and share best practices to boost growth in both economies [1].
**Migration Issues**
The treaty includes commitments to jointly combat migrant smuggling, particularly from Germany into the UK across the Channel. The German government has pledged to make necessary changes to German law to disrupt the supply lines of vessels used for illegal migration [3].
**Additional Areas of Cooperation**
The treaty sets up mechanisms for joint cabinet-level reviews, ensuring ongoing high-level political engagement and accountability for results. Both governments express a desire to safeguard their open, democratic societies against hybrid threats and adversarial interference [4].
**Strategic Objectives**
The treaty aims to reinforce Euro-Atlantic security, deepen bilateral integration, and deliver real-world outcomes. The focus on 17 concrete projects ensures that the treaty is not merely symbolic but will have measurable impacts in areas such as defense capability, economic growth, and humanitarian aid [1][2].
The signing ceremony is scheduled for tomorrow in London, marking Chancellor Friedrich Merz's inaugural visit to the UK. This treaty represents a major step in rebuilding trust and collaboration between two of Europe’s most influential countries, addressing the most pressing issues of the day and ensuring a more secure and prosperous future for both nations and for Europe as a whole [1][2][4].
The Treaty on Friendship and Bilateral Cooperation, signed between the United Kingdom and Germany, addresses not only foreign and defense policies but also economic and financial ties, migration issues, and additional areas of cooperation. The treaty's strategic objectives include reinforcing Euro-Atlantic security, deepening bilateral integration, and delivering real-world outcomes, even extending to general news, crime, and justice matters, as the parties agree to jointly fight against migrant smuggling and work together on shared security concerns.
