UK and Germany Set to Sign Mutual Defense Agreement

The U.K. and Germany are preparing to sign a wide-ranging treaty that includes a mutual assistance clause in the case of a threat to either nation.

This was reported by five people with knowledge of the process to Politico.

PM Keir Starmer and former German Chancellor Olaf Scholz laid the groundwork for the pact in a joint declaration last summer, promising closer cooperation on peace and security and economic growth.

The text of the treaty is close to completion, two London-based officials said.

It is expected to be signed on July 17 before the two parliaments rise for summer recess.

Key chapters include one devoted to defense, building on the Trinity House Agreement signed last year, which stipulates that any strategic threat to one country would also pose a threat to the other.

This would give Germany a mutual assistance clause with both of Europe’s nuclear powers, in line with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s desire to strengthen the continent’s deterrent separately from the U.S.

While the treaty will likely reaffirm the commitment of both nations to NATO as the cornerstone of their collective defense, the inclusion of this clause underlines the push for European allies to work more closely on security as the U.S. pulls back from the transatlantic defense alliance.

The document is also expected to include further measures to combat illegal migration, cooperation in transportation, research, innovation, and commitments to facilitate cross-border exchange.

A spokesperson for the German Foreign Ministry stated that the agreement will cover the full spectrum of bilateral relations.

Last year, the United Kingdom and Germany signed a defense pact to support Ukraine in the event that Donald Trump wins the US presidential election.

Additionally, the two countries will jointly develop new “deep precision strike” weapons with a range of over 2,000 kilometers.