Deepening Bond Between Germany and the UK Proposed - Deepening the bonds of camaraderie between Germany and Britain is the shared goal.
The expanded cooperation between the United Kingdom and Germany is formalized through a recently signed Friendship Treaty, aimed at renewing bilateral ties and strengthening collaboration in several key areas following Brexit. The treaty, signed on July 17, 2025, by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London, seeks to bring the two nations closer than ever before.
### Key Details of the Friendship Treaty
The Friendship Treaty solidifies a mutual defence pledge, where both countries commit to act jointly against common security threats, despite already being NATO members. Strengthening defence cooperation includes joint weapons development projects, enhanced coordination in NATO operations, and joint export campaigns for military equipment such as Boxer armored vehicles and Typhoon jets. The nations also plan to produce a deep precision strike missile system collaboratively within the next decade.
### Other Areas of Focus
The treaty includes support for Ukraine in the face of ongoing Russian aggression, as well as measures to combat migrant smuggling. Germany agrees to disrupt supply lines of boats carrying illegal migrants across the Channel, enhancing joint efforts to address this challenge. The agreement also fosters closer economic ties, with announcements of new defence export deals and broader investment cooperation reflecting the importance of both economies—Europe's largest (Germany) and second-largest (UK).
### Political Context
The treaty builds on earlier defense pacts between the two nations, reinforcing a shared stance against Russia and confirming mutual aid promises. UK Prime Minister Starmer, seeking to mend post-Brexit relations with European neighbors, emphasizes increased defence and trade cooperation while maintaining the UK's position outside the EU single market and customs union. German Chancellor Merz expressed regret over Brexit but welcomed the treaty as a sign of renewed partnership in foreign and security policy between Germany and the UK.
This treaty marks a significant step toward a closer UK-Germany partnership covering defence, trade, and migration, illustrating a mutual commitment to collaborate on strategic and security challenges in Europe. The treaty further emphasizes cooperation in the fight against human trafficking, strengthening efforts to combat cross-border crime, focusing on money laundering, illegal financial flows, and drug trafficking. Future school trips by German student groups will be possible without passports and visas, as outlined in an action plan supplementing the treaty. Mutual legal assistance and support will be utilized in pursuing trafficking criminals.
With this comprehensive friendship treaty, the UK and Germany aim to establish a new basis for cooperation, five years after Britain's exit from the European Union. This could potentially enable additional exports worth billions, according to a UK government press release on the treaty. An expert group will seek solutions for Brexit-related "mobility issues" in education, science, culture, and political organizations. Chancellor Merz has previously met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at several summits, and the two leaders traveled together to Kyiv in May.
[1] BBC News, "Germany and UK sign friendship treaty in London," (2025, July 17). Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-61428630 [2] The Guardian, "UK and Germany sign friendship treaty in London," (2025, July 17). Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/jul/17/uk-and-germany-sign-friendship-treaty-in-london [5] The Telegraph, "UK and Germany sign friendship treaty to deepen relations," (2025, July 17). Available at: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/07/17/uk-germany-sign-friendship-treaty-deepen-relations/
The Friendship Treaty, signed by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, encompasses mutual agreements in various policy aspects, including a strengthened joint defence policy, joint military equipment exports, and collaborative development of a deep precision strike missile system. Moreover, the treaty underscores the importance of partnership in policy and legislation, with a focus on general news matters like combating migrant smuggling, money laundering, illegal financial flows, and drug trafficking.
