Five years after Brexit, Germany and Britain have officially put their relations on a new footing with a far-reaching friendship treaty, DPA reported, BTA reported.
At a ceremony at London's "Victoria and Albert" Museum; German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer signed a 27-page agreement today, accompanied by a 17-point action plan.
Merz, on his first visit to Britain 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 left the European Union. We should have concluded such a treaty between us long ago. ", the German Chancellor said.
The agreement aims to deepen cooperation in key areas including defense, economic policy, migration and the fight against international crime.
It also outlines concrete measures to facilitate travel between the two countries, such as visa-free school trips and plans for a direct rail link.
The preamble says that the two governments are "driven by the desire to join forces to secure a future of prosperity, security and resilience for their citizens and for their open, democratic societies in the face of fundamental changes in the geopolitical environment".
The agreement underlines the parties' mutual defense obligations as NATO allies, which is of particular importance given the UK's status as a nuclear power. The aim is to strengthen European deterrence and defense over the next decade.
The two countries plan to jointly develop a European long-range weapons system that can hit targets up to 2,000 km away, thus overcoming the capability gap with Russian medium-range missiles.
Export rules for jointly developed military equipment will also be relaxed. Germany's traditionally strict rules have slowed down arms exports in the past, but Britain hopes that a more flexible approach could unlock billions of dollars in potential sales.
One of the most tangible steps in the humanitarian dimension envisaged in the agreement is visa-free travel for German school groups visiting the UK, which will come into effect by the end of the year.
Currently, students who do not have German citizenship, such as those from Syria or Afghanistan, must obtain visas for the UK, which could prove difficult and lead some schools to cancel trips altogether.
Expert working group will also look at the wider "mobility challenges" posed by Brexit, particularly in the areas of education, science, culture and political exchange.
The long-term aim is to create a direct passenger rail link between Germany and the UK. Currently, such journeys require transfers due to border control issues. A working group will be set up to get this process moving, with the first direct trains expected within a decade.
Meanwhile, British passengers will have access to automated electronic gateways in Germany by the end of August, with plans to further expand access to these services when infrastructure allows.
Germany and the UK have also agreed an action plan to combat illegal migration, focusing on people smuggling networks. It includes legal cooperation, joint criminal proceedings and strengthened border controls.
The Labour Starmer's government is facing growing domestic pressure to reduce the number of small boat crossings across the Channel, a politically charged issue that has contributed to the rise of Nigel Farage's Reform UK party, which is currently ahead of other parties in the polls.
More than 20,000 crossings have already been recorded this year, and the year could surpass previous records.
Germany is seen as both a transit route for migrants and a source of boats and equipment used in the Channel crossing.
Last week, Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron announced a new migrant return deal, due to come into effect within weeks and aimed at deterring migrants from making the perilous journey. But the deal still faces legal hurdles.