Germany and the United Kingdom have formally brought their bilateral friendship treaty into force, while announcing a new package of cooperation on security, technology and economic growth.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz and British Prime Minister Andy Burnham exchanged the ratification documents for the Kensington Treaty in Berlin on Thursday, completing the final formal step required for the agreement to take effect.
The two governments also agreed to deepen cooperation against cyberattacks, sabotage and other hybrid threats. The new partnership is intended to strengthen the protection of critical infrastructure and improve the countries’ ability to identify, mitigate and disrupt hostile activities.
A new Industrial Tech Corridor will connect British technology companies with German industrial partners, initially focusing on artificial intelligence and other critical technologies. The two governments also agreed to increase funding for joint quantum technology research to a total of €19.5 million.
Germany and the UK are also planning closer cooperation in space and defence and have launched a Regional Growth Forum involving business leaders from both countries.
The measures mark a further step in the post-Brexit relationship between Britain and Germany, with both governments seeking closer cooperation on European security, technology and economic resilience.
