UK and Germany To Sign Treaty to Tackle People Smuggling
The UK and Germany are set to sign a major new treaty aimed at strengthening cooperation on everything from tackling illegal migration to boosting defence exports. During Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s first official visit to London, he and Prime Minister Keir Starmer agreed to a "Bilateral Friendship and Cooperation Treaty", which is the first of its kind between the two nations.
One key outcome is Germany’s pledge to change its laws by the end of the year, making it a criminal offence to facilitate illegal migration to the UK. Currently, German law doesn’t prohibit helping people smugglers if the destination is outside the EU, a loophole that has allowed gangs to store boats and engines used in Channel crossings. Starmer welcomed the change, saying it will “disrupt the supply lines of the dangerous vessels which carry illegal migrants across the Channel.”
The treaty also ramps up defence collaboration. The two leaders announced plans for joint export campaigns of co-produced equipment like Boxer armoured vehicles and Typhoon jets. They also committed to delivering a new long-range precision strike missile in the next decade, capable of reaching over 2,000 km. The UK government says the agreement could lead to billions in defence exports and thousands of high-skilled jobs.
Business ties are also getting a boost, with more than £200 million in investments announced. A new UK-Germany Business Forum will support trade and investment, which already accounts for 8.5% of the UK’s total trade. German defence tech company STARK is opening its first facility outside Germany in Swindon, creating over 100 jobs and focusing on AI-powered unmanned systems.
While the treaty isn’t intended to edge out other allies, some UK officials suggest growing alignment between London and Berlin comes partly from shared frustration with President Macron. One German official said, “This is filling a gap that emerged because of Brexit.” With today’s agreement, the UK and Germany hope to send a message of unity and substance to both allies and adversaries.
