Tackling People‑Smuggling Gangs: UK & Germany Unite to Stop Greed and Grief
Britain and Germany forge new defence and migration pact
On Wednesday Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz signed a landmark agreement that will boost mutual defence exports and tackle the surge of small‑boat smuggling across the English Channel.
Mig‑smuggling and legal change
- Germany will amend its laws this year to allow German police to seize the warehouses that hide migrants’ boats.
- The new legal framework will enable German authorities to act against smuggler storage facilities, potentially curbing the 22,500 asylum seekers arriving on the south‑east coast this year.
Military cooperation
The treaty opens the door to large‑scale joint orders for Boxer armoured vehicles, Typhoon jets, and a precision missile that could reach more than 2,000 km.
The “Kensington Treaty”
This agreement, titled the Kensington Treaty, frames a mutual defence pact pledging assistance in case of armed attacks. It expands the existing NATO commitment between Britain and Germany and aims for greater cooperation on NATO’s eastern flank.
Other benefits
- UK passport holders will be able to use German eGates more quickly.
- Train links between London and Frankfurt will be improved, with Eurostar planning a new route in the early 2030s.
Merz’s visit was his first state trip to the UK as chancellor, although he has already met Starmer several times. The partnership is part of a growing convergence on migration and security policies between Britain, France, and Germany, signalling a renewed focus on shared European challenges despite the UK’s post‑Brexit trajectory.
