Merz visits UK as Europe closes ranks in face of threats

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz made his first official visit to London on Thursday to sign a comprehensive friendship treaty with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, aiming to reset post-Brexit ties between Britain and the European Union.

The visit comes shortly after French President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to Britain, reflecting growing alignment among Europe’s leading powers amid security concerns and strained transatlantic relations.

The new treaty, similar to Germany’s agreements with close allies such as France, includes a mutual assistance clause, which German officials say holds particular weight given Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine. It builds on an earlier defence agreement that focused on joint development of long-range weapons and follows recent Franco-British plans to strengthen nuclear cooperation.

As part of the pact, the UK and Germany will also launch joint arms export campaigns for jointly produced equipment such as the Typhoon Eurofighter and the Boxer armoured vehicle - marking a shift from Germany’s past export restrictions.

Additionally, German defence company Stark will establish its first overseas plant in the UK to produce Artificial Intelligence powered unmanned systems, also known as autonomous systems.

The treaty will also target illegal migration, with Germany committing to criminalise the facilitation of migrant smuggling into Britain. This change will enable British authorities to investigate operations linked to illegal crossings, including storage and transport hubs used by smugglers.

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