UK and Germany want to put security relations ‘on a new footing’

3 months ago 17

Visiting British Defence Secretary John Healey and his German counterpart Boris Pistorius signed a declaration on Wednesday (24 July) intending to forge a comprehensive new security partnership as the new UK government seeks to build closer relations with EU countries.

“We’ve had a period in which Britain’s essential relationships with many European allies has been strained at best (…), so with Keir Starmer now as prime minister and a new election mandate, this is a new government determined to reset relations with Europe, not just by signing pieces of paper, but in the way that we act together,” Healey said in Berlin.

Germany and Britain are cornerstones of Europe’s defence architecture as the two largest military spenders in Europe and have also spent most on military support for Ukraine in absolute terms.

“We must work together more closely and put our relations on a new footing,” Pistorius told reporters.

The joint declaration on cooperation between the countries’ defence ministries was signed during Healey’s first official visit to Germany.

It is supposed to cement closer cooperation between the defence industries and regarding the development, production, and procurement of weapons, said Pistorius.

The two countries also want to improve coordination on Ukraine support and equipment interoperability, he added.

Healey also announced that Britain will join ELSA, a cross-border project to develop long-range cruise missiles initiated by Germany, France, Italy, and Poland last week.

Pistorius praised Healey’s drive, saying that informal talks on signing a declaration at his first visit had started before the Labour party took power in the UK earlier this month.

New security treaty in the making

Ultimately, London intends to forge a comprehensive security treaty with Germany, modelled on the Franco-British Lancaster House treaties.

Before taking office, Healey had promised that it would be signed within six months of Labour winning power.

The plans are part of a wider push of the new UK government to improve relations with EU countries, which had been strained after the conservative Tories had taken Britain out of the EU.

[Edited by Zoran Radosavljevic]