Starmer and Scholz Announce Bilateral Agreements Between Britain and Germany

After meeting on August 28, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz concluded a new bilateral treaty between their countries. The agreement is aimed at strengthening cooperation, especially in the areas of defense, security and trade.

Starmer, whose agenda now includes a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, is marking with these visits an attempt at rapprochement with the European Union in the wake of the Brexit crisis.

“I am glad to be back at this time of opportunity for our two countries,” Starmer said. “In every meeting we had (with Scholz – ed.), we talked about our ambitions for the future, our values of security, prosperity, respect… And our shared determination to use the power of government to serve working people. That’s what we are doing today: a new treaty between the UK and Germany, a unique opportunity to benefit workers, a testament to the depth and potential of our relationship with deeper connections in science, technology, development, people, business, and culture.”

Germany is already the United Kingdom’s second-largest trading partner, and so the goal would be to “accelerate our trading relations and be able to create economic growth and jobs here and in the United Kingdom,” continued Starmer, who made clear reference to the rapprochement with Brussels: “Growth is my government’s number one mission, and we are clear that building relationships with our partners here in Germany and across Europe is fundamental to achieving that goal.” However, the British Prime Minister clarified that the UK has no intention of “going back on Brexit.”