Germany and the United Kingdom have signed their first bilateral defense pact since World War II, committing to mutual aid in case of an attack and deepening defense integration. The “Kensington Treaty” includes a range of promises, from joint military-industrial exports to facilitating school exchanges.
The agreement was signed on Thursday in London, with Chancellor Friedrich Merz saying it marks a “pivotal day for the relations between Germany and Britain.” Merz also discussed Ukraine’s need for long-range weapons systems, promising substantial additional support.
However, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has warned that Russia may respond with military strikes if Kyiv receives such arms. The treaty includes 17 projects, such as developing a deep precision strike weapon capable of hitting targets at ranges over 2,000 kilometers.
Berlin and London will also cooperate to address submarine threats in the Northern Seas and strengthen NATO’s eastern flank. The pact is part of a trend of rapid European defense integration, with the E3 countries playing a key role.
Source: https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2025/07/18/first-german-uk-defense-pact-since-wwii-followed-by-moscow-warning