Listeners:
Top listeners:
-
play_arrow
Britain and Germany Sign Defense Treaty Amid Uncertainty Over Trump
By Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief
LONDON/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Britain and Germany signed a landmark treaty Thursday to provide each other defense assistance and closer cooperation on migration, amid European concerns over U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s “America First” stance.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz described the Kensington Treaty as a “historic” deal that strengthens ties between Europe’s top economies.
Signed at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum, the treaty commits the two nations to assist each other — including militarily — in the event of an armed attack, despite both being NATO military alliance members.
“This is a partnership with a purpose,” Starmer said, warning of Europe’s mounting challenges. The agreement, he added, offers “practical cooperation on 17 major projects” aimed at reinforcing European stability.
The treaty comes as European leaders question the reliability of Washington under Trump, who has threatened to withhold U.S. support unless NATO countries increase defense spending.
Britain and Germany have pledged to raise military budgets to 3.5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP).
FIRST TRIP
The treaty follows recent Franco-British agreements on nuclear cooperation, signaling a broader effort to shore up Europe’s defense architecture in a time of transatlantic uncertainty.
Merz, making his first trip to Britain since taking office in May, said it was “no coincidence” he traveled to London shortly after meeting French President Emmanuel Macron.
“The E3 – Great Britain, France and Germany – are converging in their positions on foreign policy, on security policy, on migration policy, but also on economic policy issues,” he stressed..
Merz and Starmer also discussed ways to boost European support for Ukraine, after Trump announced a plan to bolster Kyiv’s stockpile by selling American weapons to NATO allies who would, in turn, send arms to Kyiv.
The German chancellor signaled that those plans are still a work in progress, saying it might take “days, perhaps weeks” before weapons reach Ukraine.
However, the U.S. military said Patriot missile defense systems will reach Ukraine soon in an attempt to stave off growing Russian attacks.
DEFENSE STARTUP
Merz said, however, that “above all, we need clarity on how weapons systems that are given up from the European side will be replaced by the U.S.”
During the trip, the leaders announced that German defense startup Stark, which makes drones for Ukraine, will open a factory in England.
They also agreed to jointly produce defense exports such as Boxer armored vehicles and Typhoon fighter jets, and to develop a deep precision strike missile in the next decade.
Starmer also praised Merz for his help curbing the smuggling gangs that brought 37,000 people across the English Channel from France in small boats in 2024, and more than 22,000 so far in 2025.
Dozens have died attempting the journey.
Berlin agreed last year to make facilitating the smuggling of migrants to Britain a crime.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
Latest News from Worthy News
The Justice Department has permanently abandoned plans to create a $1.8 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told lawmakers Tuesday, ending a controversial proposal that had become a political obstacle for Senate Republicans.
Senior members of Israel’s delegation said Tuesday that Hezbollah had not stopped fighting despite pledging to U.S. President Donald Trump a day earlier that it would de-escalate, as Israeli and Lebanese representatives opened a new round of U.S.-brokered talks in Washington.
The United States carried out fresh self-defense strikes on Iran’s Qeshm Island on Tuesday after American forces intercepted Iranian drones and missiles aimed at regional waters, Kuwait, and Bahrain, U.S. Central Command said.
A Kenyan court on Tuesday extended for another three weeks a suspension of a proposed U.S.-backed Ebola quarantine facility that has sparked deadly protests and fierce public debate, while ordering the government to disclose its agreement with Washington.
A South Carolina jury on Monday found a convenience store owner not guilty of murder in the 2023 shooting death of a Black 14-year-old boy, ending a closely watched case that fueled debate in the United States over race, self-defense laws, and the use of deadly force.
Concerns are growing over the fate of Iranian Christian convert, journalist, and human rights defender Mary Mohammadi after reports emerged that she disappeared following an apparent detention by Iranian authorities.
Andrew Left, one of the world’s most prominent short sellers and founder of Citron Research, was convicted Monday on multiple securities fraud charges in a landmark U.S. case examining whether social media posts about publicly traded companies crossed the line into illegal market manipulation.
WHO WE ARE
The Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs encapsulate the beauty, wisdom, and eternal truths found in the Bible, creating an immersive experience that resonates with believers and seekers alike.
CONTACT
- +1 908 280-4246
- Essex County, USA
- info@tnjrfm.com