Germany and the United Kingdom have signed their first bilateral defense agreement since World War II, pledging mutual military support and deepening cooperation across defense and industrial sectors. The move marks a historic shift in European security, drawing a swift warning from Moscow over increased support for Ukraine.
Signed in London on Thursday, the new “Kensington Treaty” commits the two NATO allies to assist each other militarily if attacked and outlines 17 joint initiatives aimed at strengthening Europe’s defense posture. Among the projects is the development of a deep-strike precision missile capable of hitting targets over 2,000 kilometers away — a capability both sides say will be delivered within the next decade.
Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz called it a “pivotal day” for Anglo-German relations and said the agreement represented a new era of defense integration. Standing beside British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Merz also confirmed discussions about supplying Ukraine with long-range weapons systems.
Read also: Pakistan’s GIDS Set to Showcase Cutting-Edge Defense Solutions at IDEF 2025
“Ukraine will soon receive substantial additional support in this area,” he told reporters, referring to possible German delivery of Taurus cruise missiles and British contributions.
Russia Responds with Escalation Threats
Hours after the signing, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova issued a sharp response, warning of retaliatory military action if Western-supplied long-range weapons are used against Russia.
“Russia considers itself entitled to use its weapons against the military facilities of countries that permit the use of their weapons against us,” Zakharova said, according to Russian state agency Tass.
Deepening Military and Industrial Ties
The treaty includes expanded cooperation in maritime defense, particularly submarine threat detection in the Northern Seas, and coordinated efforts in uncrewed aerial systems. It also lays the groundwork for joint arms exports, easing prior obstacles caused by Germany’s restrictive arms export policies.
Berlin and London aim to boost global sales of the jointly developed Eurofighter Typhoon and Boxer armored vehicle, among other systems.
Read also: Barracuda-100M Flight Tests: Major Milestone Achieved in High-Speed Missile Technology
“The UK and Germany commit to building a much deeper defense partnership which will endure in the long term,” the German government stated.
The Kensington Treaty follows a similar Franco-British defense agreement signed last week, underscoring a rapid acceleration in European defense collaboration in the face of ongoing Russian aggression in Ukraine and uncertainties surrounding NATO’s cohesion under the returning Trump administration.
The trilateral grouping of Germany, the UK, and France — often referred to as the “E3” — continues to assert its leadership role in shaping Europe’s military future.
Javeria Sajid is an Aerospace Engineering student from NUST with a background in technology and a sharp focus on the global political landscape and defence innovation. She writes to make complex defence technologies understandable, and aspires to bridge journalism, policy, and engineering in her work.
