Keir Starmer will sign a new bilateral treaty with Germany's chancellor, Friedrich Merz, to combat smuggling, enhance defense exports, and strengthen industrial ties. The treaty commits Germany to making unauthorized migration to the UK illegal and includes specific measures for police to target smuggling operations. This visit marks a strategic effort to rebuild UK influence in Europe post-Brexit. The agreement also focuses on mutual security regarding cyber and hybrid threats while reaffirming plans for co-developing long-range weapons systems. It emphasizes filling coordination gaps left by Brexit.
The bilateral friendship and cooperation treaty marks the latest phase of Starmer's bid to rebuild Britain's influence in Europe without reopening formal ties with the EU.
Police will be able to raid warehouses, seize assets and arrest facilitators even where no migrants are present, a move the UK government says will significantly disrupt the supply chain behind dangerous Channel crossings.
The agreement will also reaffirm an earlier plan to co-develop long-range weapons systems, enhancing military cooperation between the UK and Germany.
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