UK, Germany Sign Treaty on Defence, Migration Control

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz made his first official visit to the UK, where he and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer signed a comprehensive friendship and cooperation treaty aimed at enhancing defence collaboration and tackling illegal migration. The treaty, described by Starmer as bringing the UK and Germany "closer than ever," includes agreements to jointly produce defence exports such as Boxer armoured vehicles and Typhoon jets, and to develop a deep precision strike missile with a range exceeding 2,000 kilometers. Germany also plans to introduce legislation criminalizing facilitation of migrant smuggling to the UK, empowering authorities to investigate smuggling operations. This Anglo-German cooperation follows recent efforts by Starmer to mend ties with European leaders including a state visit by French President Emmanuel Macron, reflecting a broader strategy to restore security and foreign policy collaboration post-Brexit. The treaty includes a mutual assistance clause significant in the context of Russia's war against Ukraine, while emphasizing continued commitment to NATO and avoiding duplication of EU defence arrangements. Both leaders highlighted the urgency of responding to increasing Channel crossings by migrants and the associated human tragedies, underscoring the treaty's role in combatting criminal trafficking networks.