The UK and Germany have agreed upon a “landmark defence agreement” which seeks to enhance security measures, increase investment, and create jobs. Specifically, the Rheinmetall defence company of Germany will erect a new factory in the UK which will design and produce barrels for artillery guns, thus creating 400 new jobs. The agreement also includes the development of long-range missiles and drones with both countries. In addition to this, Germany’s maritime surveillance aircraft will regularly fly over the North Atlantic patrolling the area from the Lossiemouth, Scotland base of the UK’s Royal Air Force.
This agreement is part of a wider strategy aimed at boosting military relations with fellow European allies following Brexit. During their time in opposition, the Labour Party pledged to build stronger links with the German military. Britain has previously signed a defence pact with France known as the Lancaster House Treaty, but this is Germany’s first such agreement with the UK. Germany and the UK are the primary spending countries in Europe for defence and are also the biggest military donors to Ukraine.
The UK’s defence secretary, John Healey, praised the deal, appreciating the significant decrease in distance between the two countries’ militaries and defence industries. The countries had already been cooperating in their membership of NATO. The joint venture of Germany’s Rheinmetall and Britain’s BAE Systems, named the RBSL, works in the production of a number of armoured vehicles, including the Challenger 3 tank and the Boxer armoured fighting vehicle in Telford, Shropshire.
The Rheinmetall factory for artillery gun barrel manufacture under The Trinity House Agreement is a key aspect of the deal. The new site will use Sheffield Forgemasters’ British steel to support the creation of more than 400 jobs. The first artillery gun barrel is expected to be produced in 2027. The agreement also includes the creation of a more precise long-range missile which can travel further than any current system and work alongside the Typhoon jets operated by both countries. Furthermore, the agreement also includes a commitment to bolster the defence of NATO’s eastern flank, where Britain and Germany have already sent hundreds of troops to support defence plans against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
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