Germany closing small-boat loophole in new treaty with UK

WorldPolitics
17 Jul 2025 • 8:00 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • Britain and Germany signed a wide-ranging friendship treaty, marking German chancellor Friedrich Merz's first visit to London and aiming to deepen bilateral ties.
  • The treaty builds on recent efforts to reset UK-EU relations, following French president Emmanuel Macron's visit, and signals increased cooperation among Europe's leading powers.
  • Key areas of cooperation include defence, with pledges for joint export campaigns of military equipment and a new German defence tech factory in Britain.
  • The agreement also covers transport, including a new direct rail link, and joint efforts to combat irregular migration, with Germany committing to outlaw facilitation of illegal crossings.
  • Germany pledged to outlaw the facilitation of illegal migration to Britain, with a law change that would give law enforcement the ability to investigate warehouses where small boats are stored.