German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called for a diplomatic and strategic collaboration between Germany, UK and France to sort out the illegal migration and deepen the defence sector, after declaring that he “deeply deplores” Brexit.
After signing the Kensington Treaty, the first official treaty between Germany and UK, a one of a kind Defence and Immigration treaty since World War II, Friedrich Merz appeared alongside Keir Starmer at a press conference in Stevenage.
The agreement between Germany and the UK was further discussed in Downing Street, about closer cooperation on migration, defence, trade and education, including a framework for school exchanges.
Friedrich Merz’s visit to the UK only a week after that of Emmanuel Macron symbolizes a return of the E3 format – France, Germany and the UK – as the driving force of European security.
Read @NvOndarza‘s analysis for Chatham House⤵️ https://t.co/u3Zd2mNLtO
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German Chancellor Merz called the agreement overdue and stated, “We had you in the European Union and we thought that was enough … but we are now learning that it’s not enough, so we have to do more”. Starmer also signalled agreement and support from France and UK calling it “statement of our ambition to work ever more closely together”, reported The Guardian.
Calling to expand the treaty between Berlin and London to be three-way pact including Paris to get a more regulated deal with the three countries, ““The cooperation between the United Kingdom and France … has to be complemented by an agreement that we aim to achieve between the three of us: UK, Germany, France,” he said and added “We want to drastically reduce illegal migration in Europe. We are on a good path, but we haven’t reached the target yet.”
