Germany, UK to sign mutual assistance defence pact, reports Politico
The report came almost a year after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and then-German Chancellor Olaf Scholz issued a joint declaration promising closer cooperation on issues from trade to security.
That broad agreement is now being finalised, according to Politico, and a key area is defence.
It will include a section stating that any strategic threat to one country would represent a threat to the other and the accord is expected to be signed on July 17, it reported, citing two London-based officials.
Although both countries are committed to NATO, the defence agreement highlights a shift among European states, including Germany under Chancellor Friedrich Merz, to work more closely together and rely less on the U.S. under President Donald Trump.
A spokesperson for the German defence ministry said on Wednesday that he had no new developments to impart when asked about the Politico report at a government press conference in Berlin.
Germany and Britain launched negotiations in August 2024 on a bilateral treaty covering a broad range of areas, from defence and security cooperation, to labour and economic growth.
"We are in the final stages of finalising the treaty," a spokesperson for the foreign ministry said at the same press conference, adding that the German cabinet would sign off on it before the end of July.
Britain's government did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
38 minutes ago
- BBC News
Reeves makes surprise appearance with PM after tears in Parliament
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has made a surprise appearance alongside Sir Keir Starmer, one day after she was seen crying at Prime Minister's to unveil the government's 10-year plan for the NHS, she was smiling and embraced the prime minister as they jointly set out the government's 10-year plan for the NHS. The pound plummeted and government borrowing costs rose after the incident in Parliament on Wednesday, when Sir Keir initially failed to guarantee that Reeves would keep her fall was partially reversed after Sir Keir insisted he was "in lockstep" with his chancellor, who he said would be in her job "for a very long time to come". In a bid to put on a united front, the chancellor joined Sir Keir and Health Secretary Wes Streeting at a hospital in East London to launch plans for new neighbourhood health Keir praised his chancellor, telling the audience that decisions made by Reeves had allowed the government to "invest record amounts in the NHS".Asked if he had been aware that his chancellor had been crying next to him in the House of Commons, Sir Keir said he "hadn't appreciated what was happening" as he was "literally up and down" answering questions.
Daily Mail
44 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
NS&I launches new fixed-rate savings accounts - here's what's on offer
National Savings and Investments has launched a new range of fixed-rate savings bonds for those wanting to lock their money away. The Treasury-backed bank has launched new issues of its Guaranteed Growth Bonds and Guaranteed Income Bonds, collectively known as British Savings Bonds. Savers will now be able to open new two, three and five-year bonds, while NS&I has also boosted the rates it pays on its existing two and three-year bonds. New NS&I customers can open the bonds as well as existing customers whose bonds are maturing. In April, NS&I launched new issues of its one, two, three and five-year fixed rate savings accounts. It was the first time these accounts had been available with NS&I at the same time. The rates on the issues launched today have fallen from the previous issues, however, in a blow to savers seeking better returns for locking their money away. The new two-year British Savings Bonds have been cut to 3.85 per cent for both the growth and income options, previously these bonds payed 4 per cent. The three-year versions of the bonds will offer 3.88 per cent, down from the previous issue's rate of 4.1 per cent. The new interest rate on the five-year growth option is 3.84 per cent down from 4.06 per cent. There is no change to the rate on the one-year British Savings Bonds, which remain at 4.05 per cent for both the growth and income option. At the same time, NS&I is changing the rate on its Junior Isa to 3.55 per cent. This is the first time the rate has changed on the Junior Isa since August 2023, when it was 4 per cent. Andrew Westhead, NS&I retail director, said: 'Today's announcement is in response to changes in the wider market and will ensure we continue to offer a range of fixed-term options while balancing the interests of savers, taxpayers and the broader financial services sector.' How do NS&I rates compare? The rates now fall well short of the best-buy fixed rate savings deals. The top two-year fixed rate bond on the market pays 4.43 per cent and is offered by Cynergy Bank, compared to NS&I's 3.85 per cent one-year bond. Savers can also do better than NS&I's three-year bonds by keeping their cash in the best three-year fixed-rate deals This pays 4.45 per cent and is offered by JN Bank. The best five year fixed-rate account pays 4.47 per cent and is offered by Birminggam Bank. Meanwhile the NS&I Junior Isa lags behind the best buys which is currently offered by Bath Building Society and pays 4.65 per cent. What are the benefits of saving with NS&I? Savers can put between £500 and £1million into the fixed rate bonds. Unlike other savings accounts, all money is 100 per cent guaranteed by the Government. This means savers don't have to spread their money between a number of savings accounts in order to make sure it is all protected, in the event that the provider goes under. When using normal savings accounts with a bank, deposits are protected up to £85,000 per bank - so those with more money than that are advised to open multiple accounts with different institutions. NS&I typically doesn't offer the highest savings deals on the market to avoid skewing it. The Treasury-backed bank said the new bond offerings balance the interests of savers, taxpayers and the broader financial services sector. Unlike Premium Bonds, these accounts are not tax-free.
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
UK politics live: Rachel Reeves breaks cover after crying in Commons during PMQs
Rachel Reeves has appeared in public with Sir Keir Starmer a day after breaking down in tears alongside the prime minister in the Commons. The public show of unity came after Sir Keir gave her his full backing and said he did not appreciate how upset she was in the Commons because he was focused on answering PMQs. The pair were both at the launch of the government's 10-year plan for the NHS in London. The prime minister said all people could be caught 'off guard' by their emotions, but the chancellor had to deal with it while on camera in Parliament. He said she was doing an 'excellent' job, would remain in place beyond the next general election, and that they were both absolutely committed to the chancellor's 'fiscal rules' to maintain discipline over the public finances. UK government bonds rallied and the pound steadied on Thursday, after reassurances from the prime minister about the chancellor's future. Now Reeves turns to laughter After three questions in a row to Sir Keir Starmer about Rachel Reeves having appeared alongside him at the speech, the chancellor has turned to laughter. When ITV asked how she is doing today, after yesterday's tears in the Commons, she could be seen looking towards the correspondent and laughing at the premise. Jabed Ahmed3 July 2025 11:18 Rachel Reeves sighs at Beth Rigby question Rachel Reeves audibly said 'ugh' when Sky's Beth Rigby asked Sir Keir Starmer about her tears in the Commons on Wednesday. She was the second journalist in a row to ask about the chancellor, who has appeared alongside Sir Keir in a show of unity as he unveils his NHS plan. But she is clearly in no mood to go into the personal matter that left her in tears, if her audible sigh is anything to go by. Archie Mitchell3 July 2025 11:13 Starmer says NHS reform is 'about fairness' Reforming the NHS is 'about fairness' for everyone, Sir Keir Starmer said as he spoke at the launch of the NHS 10-year plan. The Prime Minister said: 'Millions of people across Britain no longer feel that they get a fair deal, and it's starting to affect the pride, the hope, the optimism that they have in this great country, and our job is to change that.' He continued: 'For 77 years this weekend, the NHS has been the embodiment, if you like, of British pride, of hope, that basic sense of fairness and decency. 77 years of everyone paying in, working hard, doing the right thing, secure in the knowledge that if they or their family needs it, the NHS will be there for them. 'In 10 years' time, when this plan has run its course, I want people to say that this was the moment, this was the Government, that secured those values for the future. 'Look, when people are uncertain about the deal they're getting from this country, what fairer way is there to respond than that, by giving them more control, by partnering with them to build an NHS that is fit to face the future? And that is what this plan that we are launching today will do.' Jabed Ahmed3 July 2025 11:11 Starmer credits Reeves' decisions for record NHS investment Sir Keir Starmer has hailed the decisions made by Chancellor Rachel Reeves as playing a part in the government investing 'record amounts in the NHS'. He said: 'It's all down to the foundation we laid this year, all down to the path of renewal that we chose, the decisions made by the Chancellor, by Rachel Reeves, which mean we can invest record amounts in the NHS. 'Already over 6,000 mental health workers recruited, 1,700 new GPs, 170 community diagnostic centres – really important – already open. 'New surgical hubs, new mental health units, new ambulance sites. Record investment right across the system.' Jabed Ahmed3 July 2025 11:10 Pictured | Starmer, Reeves and Streeting at launch of NHS 10-year plan Jabed Ahmed3 July 2025 11:09 Watch live | Starmer joined by Reeves as Labour unveil 10-year NHS plan Jabed Ahmed3 July 2025 11:06 Starmer says NHS still needs work but future 'already looks better' under Labour Sir Keir Starmer acknowledged improvements were needed in the NHS but said the situation was better than when Labour first took over from the Conservatives a year ago. The prime minister said: 'I'm not going to stand here and say everything is perfect now, we have a lot more work to do and we will do it. 'But let's be under no illusions: because of the fair choices we made, the tough Labour decisions we made, the future already looks better for our NHS. 'And that is the story of this Government in a nutshell.' Jabed Ahmed3 July 2025 11:02 Reeves says NHS plan is 'good for nation's health and finances' Labour's plan for the NHS will be 'good for the health of our nation and good for the health of our nation's finances', Rachel Reeves has said in her first public appearance since crying in the Commons chamber on Wednesday. Smiling as she spoke at a health centre in London, the chancellor said: 'I want to be clear, we are spending money on taxpayers' priorities, but that wouldn't have been possible without the measures that we took in the budget last year. 'We fixed the foundations and we've put our economy back on a strong footing.' She went on to say the government was 'making this country fairer for those who have paid in all their lives by guaranteeing that the NHS will be there when they need it'. Ms Reeves added: 'This is the right way forward, good for the health of our nation and good for the health of our nation's finances. 'This government will always deliver on the priorities of ordinary working people, and I am proud that with this plan the NHS will always be there for those who need it for the next 77 years, and many more beyond that too.' Jabed Ahmed3 July 2025 11:01 Analysis: Rachel Reeves needed to be visible today A beaming chancellor Rachel Reeves is definitely making an effort to look much happier today. She has not mentioned the tears of yesterday at PMQs and the prime minister has now rallied to her saying she is safe in her job as chancellor. Ms Reeves was not previously slated for this NHS 10-year plan launch but it was important she was here today to try to move on from a very difficult week for the government. This is a show of unity and strength with three of the biggest figures in the government - Keir Starmer, Reeves and health secretary Wes Streeting. David Maddox
