The UK will sign a major defense deal with Germany this week in a step towards strengthening military and security ties with the EU, FOCUS reported.
The agreement envisages joint military exercises on NATO's eastern border, possibly in Estonia and Lithuania, as well as joint procurement and development of new generation weapons, writes The Times.
UK Defense Secretary John Healy hopes the deal will strengthen both countries' defense industries, crucial as the West faces pressure to rebuild its armies after backing Ukraine. The deal is also seen as a first step towards a wider agreement between the UK and the EU on defence, intelligence, energy and the fight against illegal migration.
The agreement with Germany will be the UK's most significant bilateral agreement since the 2010 Lancaster-House treaty with France, which cemented close military cooperation between the countries. Germany, which increased defense spending after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, is now the second largest military spender among NATO countries.
British troops stationed in Estonia will receive new drones, radio systems and improved technology to improve their combat training as part of Project Asgard. Healy emphasized that this will help troops become more maneuverable and technologically equipped to overcome much larger adversaries.
The UK will also join a new initiative to develop advanced long-range missiles, along with Germany, France, Poland and Italy. These missiles will have a longer range than the Storm Shadow, which Ukraine has successfully used in attacks against Russian military targets in Crimea and the Black Sea.