Latest news with #German-British
Saudi Gazette
18-07-2025
- Business
- Saudi Gazette
Germany's Merz and UK's Starmer sign 'first of its kind' defense and migration treaty
LONDON — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz signed on Thursday a treaty targeting smuggling gangs, boosting defence exports, and reinforcing UK-Germany trade ties. 'This is a historic day for German-British relations,' said Merz, making his first official visit to the UK since taking office in May. 'We want to work together more closely, particularly after the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union. It is overdue for us to conclude such a treaty with each other.' Starmer described the treaty as "the first of its kind ever" and called it a 'statement of intent, a statement of our ambition to work ever more closely together." The "Kensington Treaty" — the first since the second world war — includes a commitment from Berlin to make facilitating the smuggling of migrants to the UK a criminal offence. A statement from Downing Street said the law change — expected to be passed by the end of the year — will give German authorities more powers to investigate and take action against warehouses and storage facilities used by smugglers to conceal small boats for Channel crossings. 'Chancellor Merz's commitment to make necessary changes to German law to disrupt the supply lines of the dangerous vessels which carry illegal migrants across the Channel is hugely welcome,' Starmer said. The treaty builds on a defence pact the UK and Germany, two of the biggest European supporters of Ukraine, signed last year, pledging closer co-operation against a growing threat from Russia. Starmer has worked to improve strained relations with the UK's European neighbours after its departure from the EU in 2020. While he has ruled out re-joining the 27-member bloc's single market, he has sought to increase defence cooperation and reduce trade barriers through new arrangements. During a working lunch at 10 Downing Street, the two leaders also discussed ways to boost European support for Ukraine, including the announcement that German defence startup Stark, which makes drones for Ukraine, will open a factory in the UK. A document released by the German government states that the countries are committed to greater cooperation on joint military and training exercises, as well as working together to combat cyber threats and information warfare. The leaders also unveiled a joint export campaign to co-produce equipment such as Boxer armoured vehicles and Typhoon jets, and to develop a deep precision strike missile over the next decade. Other parts of the treaty aim to deepen economic cooperation by promoting employment and the creation of high-quality jobs, plans for a new cross-border rail link and visa-free travel measures for certain groups. Of the limited arrangement that will make it easier for schoolchildren to go on exchange trips, Merz said he was glad the agreement would allow "the young generation in particular has an opportunity to get to know both countries better." At the signing of the agreement, Merz said he was "surprised" to learn the deal was the first UK-Germany treaty since World War II. "We had you in the European Union and we thought that was enough, but we are now learning that it's not enough so we have to do more on that," he said. For Merz, the visit offers an opportunity for the Chancellor to show leadership on the international stage whilst at home he navigates a bitter row with his party's coalition partners, the Social Democrats, over the appointment of the country's constitutional judges. — Euronews
Miami Herald
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Britain, Germany sign defense, migration treaty
July 17 (UPI) -- Britain and Germany signed a treaty Thursday to stand together on defense and migration, among other matters. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz met Thursday and held a joint press conference in London to discuss what has been dubbed the 'Kensington Treaty,' a 30-article document that promises cooperation on several aspects. 'I'm working with Germany to deliver results for British people,' Starmer posted to X Thursday. Merz also posted online, and wrote that the treaty marks 'a historic day for German-British relations.' A specific focus of the accord is on defense, as the document identifies 'the Russian Federation's brutal war of aggression on the European continent as the most significant and direct threat to their security.' Both nations reaffirmed their commitment to NATO, but the treaty declared that the two would 'pursue deep exchanges on strategic aspects of security policy,' and shall 'increase cooperation on intelligence and national security capabilities in order to contribute effectively to this goal.' Another facet of the pact deals with migration issues, in which the United Kingdom and Germany will lock in an annual 'Home Affairs dialogue at senior official level' which would deal with crimes related to 'migrant smuggling and border security.' 'Germany has committed to change their law so we can disrupt the supply of small boats,' Starmer also noted on social media Thursday. 'We will smash the people smuggling gangs and secure our borders.' According to the treaty, both countries 'will support the provision of mutual legal assistance and the prosecution of offenders involved in the smuggling of migrants into and between the two countries.' The document also commits that the two nations will expand on this bilateral bond by seeking 'to intensify the trilateral cooperation with the French Republic, as well as their cooperation with other partners, and within multilateral formats such as the G7 and the United Nations, in order to jointly address international challenges.' Copyright 2025 UPI News Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
Miami Herald
17-07-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Germany and UK sign post-Brexit friendship pact
LONDON - Five years after Brexit, Germany and the United Kingdom have formally placed their relationship on a new footing with a wide-ranging friendship treaty. Chancellor Friedrich Merz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer signed the 27-page agreement - accompanied by a 17-point action plan - during a ceremony at London's Victoria and Albert Museum on Thursday. Merz, on his first visit to the U.K. since taking office in May, called it a "historic day for German-British relations." "We want to work more closely together, especially after the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union. It is long overdue that we conclude such a treaty with each other," the conservative politician said at the museum. The treaty aims to deepen cooperation in key areas including defense, economic policy, migration and the fight against cross-border crime. It also outlines concrete measures to ease travel between the two countries, such as visa-free school trips and plans for a direct rail link. Starmer described the treaty as the "first of its kind" between the two counties and a "statement of intent, a statement of our ambition to work ever more closely together." The preamble says both governments are "guided by the desire to join forces for a prosperous, secure and sustainable future for their citizens and their open, democratic societies in the face of fundamental changes of the geopolitical environment." Defense: Mutual assistance and arms cooperation The treaty underscores the countries' mutual defense obligations as NATO allies, which is made especially significant given the U.K.'s status as a nuclear power. The goal is to boost European deterrence and defense over the next decade. The two sides plan to jointly develop a European-made long-range weapons system capable of striking targets up to 2,000 kilometers away, addressing a capability gap with Russian medium-range missiles. Export rules for jointly developed military equipment will also be eased. Germany's traditionally strict regulations have slowed arms exports in the past, but the U.K. hopes a more flexible approach could unlock billions in potential sales. Visa-free travel and rail links One of the most tangible steps is visa-free travel for German school groups visiting the U.K., set to take effect by the end of the year. Currently, students without German citizenship - such as those from Syria or Afghanistan - must obtain U.K. visas, which can be difficult and have led some schools to cancel trips entirely. An expert working group will also look into broader "mobility challenges" created by Brexit, especially in education, science, culture and political exchange. A long-term goal is to establish a direct passenger rail connection between Germany and the U.K. Currently, such travel requires transfers due to border control issues. A task force will be created to move this forward, with the first direct trains expected within a decade. Meanwhile, British travellers will gain access to automated e-gates in Germany by the end of August, with further expansion planned as infrastructure allows. Migration: Tackling human smuggling Germany and the U.K. have agreed on an action plan to combat irregular migration, with a focus on human-smuggling networks. This includes legal cooperation, joint criminal prosecutions and strengthened border controls. Starmer's Labour government faces mounting pressure at home to reduce the number of small-boat crossings across the English Channel - a politically charged issue that has fuelled the rise of Nigel Farage's Reform U.K. party, currently polling ahead of other parties. With more than 20,000 Channel crossings already recorded this year, 2025 could break previous records. Germany is seen as both a transit route for migrants and a source of boats and equipment used in the Channel crossings. Last week, Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron announced a new migrant return agreement due to begin within weeks aimed at deterring migrants from making the dangerous journey. The deal still faces legal hurdles, however. Merz and Starmer have crossed paths several times since Merz was sworn in on May 6, including during a surprise joint visit to Kiev alongside Macron and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk just days later. -------------- Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
The Hindu
17-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
U.K., Germany sign friendship treaty, deepening ties in face of threats
Britain and Germany signed a wide-ranging friendship treaty on Thursday (July 17, 2025), deepening ties in areas ranging from defence to transport, to mark Friedrich Merz's first trip to London as chancellor, the latest visit to help reset U.K. ties with the EU. Mr. Merz's day trip follows a three-day state visit to Britain by French President Emmanuel Macron, signalling greater cooperation between Europe's top three powers at a time of threats to the continent and uncertainty about their U.S. ally. "This is a historic day for German-British relations," Mr. Merz said at the signing ceremony in the Victoria and Albert museum, co-founded by Britain's Queen Victoria and her husband Prince Albert, of German origin. "We want to deepen our cooperation in the field of defence, in foreign policy, but also in economic and domestic policy." Coming nearly a decade after Britain voted to leave the European Union, the treaty is, on the one hand, a sign of the normalisation of German-British relations, said Nicolai von Ondarza at Berlin's SWP think-tank. "On the other hand, the treaty is a sign that the UK has become even more important as a security partner due to transatlantic uncertainty." Europe has been confronted with new U.S. tariffs since President Donald Trump returned to the White House as well as questions about the U.S. commitment to defend its European allies, including Ukraine against Russia's invasion. The treaty includes a clause on mutual assistance which, "in light of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, is highly significant", a German official said earlier this week. It builds on a defence deal agreed last year that included the joint development of long-range strike weapons, and comes after France and Britain agreed last week to reinforce cooperation over their respective nuclear arsenals. Deeper defence As part of Thursday's announcement, Britain and Germany pledged to "pursue joint export campaigns" to drum up orders from other countries for equipment they make jointly, such as the Typhoon Eurofighter jet and the Boxer armoured vehicle. That could help boost sales, and represents a significant reversal from the previous 10 years, when Germany blocked Saudi Arabia and Turkey from buying Typhoons. Typhoons are made by a consortium of European companies, including BAE Systems in Britain and Airbus in Germany, with the different partner governments responsible for orders to different countries; the Boxer is made by a German-British joint venture, Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land. Further deepening ties, a German defence tech company, Stark, has also agreed to build a new factory in Britain, the first production facility outside of Germany, to create AI-powered unmanned systems. Beyond defence, the treaty also includes an agreement to develop a new direct rail link between the two countries and to jointly combat irregular migration, part of Starmer's push to reduce the number of asylum seekers arriving in Britain to try to fend off the populist Reform U.K. party. Germany pledged to outlaw the facilitation of illegal migration to Britain, with a law change by the end of the year. That would give law enforcement the tools to investigate warehouses and storage facilities used by migrant smugglers to conceal dangerous small boats intended for illegal crossings to Britain.
News18
17-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
UK signs treaty on defence, trade and migration with Germany
London, Jul 17 (AP) UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz signed a landmark treaty on Thursday that pledges to tighten defence ties and boost law-enforcement cooperation against criminal people-smuggling gangs using the English Channel. 'This is a historic day for German-British relations," said Merz, making his first official visit to Britain since taking office in May. 'We want to work together more closely, particularly after the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union. It is overdue for us to conclude such a treaty with each other." Starmer said the agreement — signed at London's V&A Museum, which is named after Queen Victoria and her German husband, Prince Albert — was a 'statement of intent, a statement of our ambition to work ever more closely together." Starmer has made it a priority of his centre-left Labour Party to curb the gangs behind cross-Channel people smuggling. About 37,000 people were detected crossing the English Channel from France in small boats in 2024, and more than 20,000 people made the crossing in the first six months of 2025. Dozens have died trying to make the crossing. Berlin agreed last year to make facilitating the smuggling of migrants to the UK a criminal offence, a move that will give law enforcement more powers to investigate the supply and storage of small boats to be used for the crossings. Merz is expected to commit to adopting the law change by the end of the year. 'Chancellor Merz's commitment to make necessary changes to German law to disrupt the supply lines of the dangerous vessels which carry illegal migrants across the Channel is hugely welcome," Starmer said. The treaty builds on a defence pact the UK and Germany, two of the biggest European supporters of Ukraine, signed last year pledging closer co-operation against a growing threat from Russia. It includes a promise to come to one another's aid in the event of an attack — though as NATO members, they are already committed to that. The leaders' talks over lunch at 10 Downing St. included ways to boost European support for Ukraine, following US President Donald Trump's announcement of a plan to bolster Kyiv's stockpile by selling American weapons to NATO allies who would in turn send arms to Kyiv. They announced that German defense startup Stark, which makes drones for Ukraine, will open a factory in England. They are also expected to agree to jointly produce defense exports such as Boxer armored vehicles and Typhoon jets, and to develop a deep precision strike missile in the next decade. Starmer has worked to improve relations with Britain's neighbours, strained by the UK's acrimonious departure from the European Union in 2020. He has sought to rebuild ties strained by years of ill-tempered wrangling over Brexit terms, an worked to reduce trade barriers and to strengthen defense cooperation. But Starmer has ruled out rejoining the 27-nation bloc's single market or customs union, and has been cool to the idea of a youth mobility agreement with the EU. The two countries agreed on a more limited arrangement that will make it easier for schoolchildren to go on exchange trips. 'I am glad we were able to reach an agreement so that schoolchildren and students can come to Britain more easily in the future, and the other way round can come to Germany more easily, so that the young generation in particular has an opportunity to get to know both countries better," Merz said. (AP) GSP view comments First Published: July 17, 2025, 19:15 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
