German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has arrived in London on Thursday to sign a new “friendship treaty” with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, as the two leaders seek to reset ties five years after the United Kingdom’s formal departure from the European Union.
This marks Merz’s first official visit to Britain as Chancellor, and follows a broader European push to reinvigorate cooperation with London on matters ranging from defence to migration. His trip comes close on the heels of a similar overture by the French President, underscoring renewed interest from EU powers in rebuilding bilateral relations with the UK.
At the heart of the treaty lies a pledge for greater cooperation in both military and economic spheres. While Germany and the United Kingdom are already bound by mutual defence obligations under NATO, the new agreement reportedly commits the two nations to assist “one another, including by military means, in case of an armed attack.”
An official draft of the agreement declares: “There is no strategic threat to one that would not be a strategic threat to the other,” pointing to the growing convergence in foreign policy and security interests.
Ukraine will dominate the bilateral discussions, with both London and Berlin expected to coordinate their contributions to a broader NATO plan—spearheaded by US President Donald Trump, to equip Kyiv with fresh military supplies. Financial support from other NATO allies is likely to underpin the strategy.
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The treaty is also expected to cement an existing commitment by the two nations to co-develop next-generation strike missiles. These weapons, with an estimated range exceeding 2,000 kilometres, are set to be delivered within the next decade, following announcements in October and May.
Merz and Starmer have met on multiple occasions in recent months, including during a joint visit to Ukraine shortly after Merz assumed office in May. Their growing camaraderie is expected to reflect in the tone of Thursday’s talks.
Aside from military concerns, irregular migration remains a critical point of convergence. The leaders are set to announce measures to curb illegal crossings in the English Channel, with a view to creating a comprehensive cross-border response to the challenge. A bilateral pact on migration, modelled on Britain’s recent arrangements with France, is also on the cards.
The visit, while largely symbolic, is seen as a turning point in Britain’s relations with Germany—Europe’s largest economy—and a litmus test for Starmer’s broader post-Brexit foreign policy.
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