LONDON (Realist English). Five years after the UK formally exited the European Union, Germany and the United Kingdom have signed a wide-ranging bilateral friendship treaty, laying the foundation for a renewed partnership in security, trade, and migration policy.
The 27-page document was signed in London by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer during an official ceremony at the Victoria and Albert Museum. The treaty is accompanied by a 17-point action plan outlining practical steps for implementation.
“This is a historic day for German-British relations,” Merz declared following the signing.
Prime Minister Starmer called the agreement “the first of its kind,” stating that it would “bring the UK and Germany closer than ever.”
The treaty outlines enhanced cooperation in defense, economic policy, and law enforcement, including joint action to reduce irregular migration and combat cross-border crime. Among the specific initiatives listed are the introduction of visa-free school trips and the development of a direct rail link between the two countries.
According to the plan, the first through-trains from Germany to the UK are expected to begin operating via the Channel Tunnel by 2035. At present, travelers are required to transfer trains due to post-Brexit passport control procedures.
The treaty is the most significant bilateral accord between Berlin and London since Brexit and is widely seen as a signal of intent to restore strategic alignment between two of Europe’s largest economies.
