Overview

• Germany and the UK formalized a friendship treaty in London, signed by Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
• The pact enshrines a mutual defense clause requiring both nations to provide military assistance if one faces an armed attack.
• Under NATO’s framework, the agreement deepens strategic security cooperation, including joint weapons research, nuclear policy dialogue and space security.
• Berlin and London pledged coordinated legal assistance and joint enforcement operations to combat irregular migration, smuggling and human trafficking.
• An accompanying 17-point action plan commits over £200 million in German investment to create more than 600 UK jobs, reinstates visa-free school group travel and convenes expert panels on post-Brexit mobility challenges.