Merz travels to London: Germany and Great Britain want to deepen friendship

Germany and Great Britain want to significantly deepen their relationships with a comprehensive friendship contract. Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) travels to London today to sign the 27-page document on Thursday together with the British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

The contract will “bring the United Kingdom and Germany closer to each other than ever before,” said Straiter before signing. “He is the foundation on which we build to cope with common problems and invest in common strengths.”

Five years after Great Britain from the European Union exit, Germany and Great Britain want to create a new basis for their cooperation. It is primarily about a closer coordination in foreign and defense policy and in the containment of irregular migration. The economic cooperation and the exchange between the citizens of both countries are also to be promoted.

Mutual assistance for attacks

In the contract, the two countries underline, among other things, the obligation to assist in the event of an attack. However, they also want to expand the cooperation in the armaments area and facilitate the export of jointly produced armaments. This could enable additional exports in billions in billions, according to a press release from the British government to the contract.

Fight against smuggling crime

The fight against smuggling crime is to be promoted by mutual legal aid and support in the persecution of criminals. Cooperation in the fight against cross -border crime is also to be reinforced. This primarily affects money laundering, illegal financial flows and drug trafficking.

Removal of “mobility problems”

Class trips of German student groups should be possible in the future without passports and visas. This should be stipulated in an action plan as a supplement to the contract. In addition, an expert group should search for solutions for further “mobility problems” created by Brexit- especially in educational, science and cultural institutions as well as political organizations.

Inaugural visit to the Chancellor

The contract is to be signed at a solemn ceremony in London. The chancellor’s journey is his inaugural visit to Great Britain. However, he met Straßer with several peaks and traveled to Kiev in May with him and the French President Emmanuel Macron.