Germany and Britain have taken a significant step to enhance their defense and security cooperation with the signing of a landmark joint declaration. This agreement, finalized on Wednesday during UK Defence Secretary John Healey’s inaugural visit to Berlin, marks a renewed commitment between the two NATO allies as part of Britain’s new Labour government’s strategy to recalibrate post-Brexit relations with European partners.
The joint declaration, signed by Healey and German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, is described as the first of its kind between the two nations. The pact outlines a range of collaborative efforts, including strengthening defense industries, improving coordination on weapons development and procurement, and enhancing joint support for Ukraine.
Pistorius emphasized that the agreement would “strengthen the European pillar within NATO and thus NATO as a whole.” He highlighted the significance of closer cooperation in bolstering the collective security of the alliance.
Healey, who was greeted with military honors in Berlin, underscored that the deeper collaboration would not only enhance national security but also benefit both nations’ economies. This declaration is part of a broader effort by the Labour government, which secured a landslide victory in recent elections, to reset and strengthen ties with European allies, strained by Brexit.
Healey remarked, “Britain’s essential relationships with many European allies have been strained at best” in recent years, acknowledging the impact of Brexit on diplomatic relations. He noted that the new defense pact signifies the beginning of a “developing and deepening relationship” between Britain and Germany, emphasizing the importance of their joint contribution to European security.
Healey’s visit to Berlin is part of a broader European tour that includes stops in France, Poland, and an upcoming visit to Estonia. During his trip, Healey quipped about his busy schedule, saying, “Yes, breakfast in Paris, lunch in Berlin, dinner in Warsaw and perhaps a beer after this is over.”
In Warsaw, Healey reaffirmed the UK’s steadfast commitment to NATO and its eastern flank, highlighting plans to deploy “four to six Eurofighter jets to the air policing mission over Poland next year,” a move welcomed by Polish Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz.
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