German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will sign a bilateral agreement of friendship and strategic partnership with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer during his first official visit to the United Kingdom. This was announced by the DPA agency, BTA reports.
Merz, leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), took office on May 6, 2025, and his visit to London marks an important milestone in efforts to deepen German-British relations.
The agreement, drawn up in 27 pages, provides for enhanced cooperation in the areas of defense and foreign policy. The two countries are committed to mutual defense in the event of an attack, a commitment that reflects the principles of Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty.
Berlin and London also plan to expand their joint military production. This comes in the context of growing security challenges in Europe and the need to strengthen the industrial capacity of NATO member states.
An important element of the agenda will also be the fight against illegal migration, especially in the context of Britain's efforts to curb people smuggling across the English Channel. Last week, Prime Minister Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron announced a new migration deal, the implementation of which is expected to begin in the coming weeks.
Merz and Starmer are also expected to discuss economic relations between the two countries. The two leaders plan to restart Anglo-German trade ties in the post-Brexit era, after the UK officially leaves the European Union in 2020.