Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Friedrich Merz, Federal Chancellor of Germany Forge Historic Alliance with Landmark Kensington Treaty
Sir Keir Starmer has celebrated a “new chapter of deep partnership” between the United Kingdom and Germany as both nations signed the historic Kensington Treaty — a comprehensive agreement set to transform cooperation on trade, security, defence, and cross-border mobility.
The treaty was formally signed by Prime Minister Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. The event marked a symbolic and strategic turning point, as the two countries committed to closer collaboration not just in diplomacy but in practical areas affecting daily life — including education exchanges and improved travel procedures.
Calling it the “first of its kind” between the UK and Germany, Sir Keir declared the agreement both a recognition of the “closeness of our bond” and a bold step toward “working ever more closely together for our shared future.” The Kensington Treaty was also signed by Foreign Secretary David Lammy and his German counterpart Johann Wadephul, underscoring its depth and mutual importance.
The treaty outlines several ambitious initiatives. It pledges joint reinforcement of Euro-Atlantic security and military cooperation, affirms unwavering support for NATO, and commits to combating organised cross-border crime, particularly human smuggling. In a significant gesture to UK travellers, Germany will begin allowing frequent British visitors to use passport e-gates from August.
Further, the UK and Germany will launch a joint taskforce to explore direct cross-border rail services, with hopes that such connectivity could be realised within the next decade. The treaty also highlights a shared commitment to deepening youth and school exchange programs, aiming to foster a new generation of European partnership.
The agreement coincides with Chancellor Merz’s official visit to London, as Downing Street strengthens its efforts to tackle people smuggling and reframe Britain’s defence posture in concert with its European allies. Germany, in a notable legal shift, is set to criminalise the facilitation of migrant smuggling into the UK by year’s end — a move hailed by Downing Street as “a significant step.”
Asked about the pace of legal changes in Germany, a spokesman for Sir Keir emphasised that people smuggling remains “a global problem demanding global solutions,” and pointed to growing European cooperation as evidence of real progress.
Following the signing, the two leaders met at Number 10 to continue discussions. Chancellor Merz reflected on the moment’s historical significance, noting his surprise that this was the first UK-Germany treaty since the Second World War. “We had you in the European Union and we thought that was enough,” he said. “But now we understand we must go further — and do more.”
