UK and Germany Sign ‘Landmark’ Defence Treaty

Defence Secretary John Healey (left) and his German counterpart Boris Pistorius (right) speaking at a press conference after signing a new UK–Germany Defence Agreement at Trinity House in London, on Oct. 23, 2024. Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire

The UK has signed a defence pact with Germany that will see German military aircraft operate out of a base in Scotland and the opening of new artillery gun barrel factory.

Defence Secretary John Healey and his German counterpart, Boris Pistorius, signed the Trinity House Agreement in London on Oct. 23, which includes agreements on defence projects and industry as well as new joint work on providing support to Ukraine.

The Ministry of Defence described the deal as a “first-of-its-kind” between Europe’s two largest defence spenders, which the department said “will strengthen national security and economic growth in the face of growing Russian aggression and increasing threats.”

In a statement issued on Oct. 22, Healey called the Trinity House Agreement a “landmark” agreement, symbolising “a milestone moment” in the UK’s relationship with Germany and “a major strengthening of Europe’s security.”

“It secures unprecedented levels of new cooperation with the German Armed Forces and industry, bringing benefits to our shared security and prosperity, protecting our shared values and boosting our defence industrial bases,” he said ahead of the meeting with Pistorius.

The agreement delivers on the Labour government’s manifesto commitment to strike a new defence relationship with Germany and represents Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s effort to “reset“ relations with European partners.

Boost to British Industry

Joint German–British projects will cover air, sea, land, and cyber domains, which Pistorius said will strengthen the European pillar within NATO.

The German defence minister said: “We must not take security in Europe for granted. Russia is waging war against Ukraine, it is increasing its weapons production immensely and has repeatedly launched hybrid attacks on our partners in Eastern Europe.”

Among the measures outlined in the agreement is the opening of the Rheinmetall factory in the UK, which will produce artillery gun barrels using British steel produced by the steel production and engineering company Sheffield Forgemasters; it will be the first time in 10 years the UK has produced the armament. The government says this venture will support 400 jobs and bring half a billion pounds into the economy over the span of a decade.

Further joint defence industry projects include a long-term commitment to manufacturing Boxer armoured vehicles and promoting procurement of the UK’s Lightweight Torpedo Stingray Mod 2 for maritime patrol aircraft.

German P-8A Poseidon aircraft will be periodically operating out of Lossiemouth, Scotland, to support anti-submarine warfare operations in the North Atlantic.

The UK and Germany will also be developing new drones that can be operated alongside fighter jets, as well as developing new capabilities for a Maritime Uncrewed Air System, which uses unmanned aerial vehicles designed to work in maritime environments.

Support for Ukraine

Other measures include strengthening NATO’s Eastern Flank and extra materiel support to Ukraine, namely equipping German Sea King helicopters with modern missile systems for use by Kyiv’s military.

The Anglo-German promises of equipment support come after the UK pledged a £2.26 billion loan to Kyiv, which would be repaid through the profits on sanctioned Russian sovereign overseas assets.

The funds are the UK’s contribution to the G7 Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration Loans to Ukraine scheme, worth $50 billion (£38.52 billion). G7 leaders agreed that the money would be delivered to Kyiv for military, budget, and constructions needs at the summit in Apulia, Italy, in June.

Defence Secretary John Healey (centre right) and his German counterpart, Boris Pistorius, (centre left) at the signing of a new UK–Germany Defence Agreement at Trinity House in London, on Oct. 23, 2024. Jordan Pettitt/PA

The £2.26 billion loan is on top of the government’s existing £3 billion a year commitment in military aid, as well as the £12.8 billion the UK has already committed in military, economic, and humanitarian support.

In a joint statement following the agreement’s signing on Oct. 23, Healey and Pistorius said they were “committed to working together for as long as it takes to support and enable Ukraine to counter Russian aggression.”

They added, “Our combined will is unequivocal; we will continue to ensure Ukraine has the military capabilities it requires.”