UK, Germany ink 'landmark defense agreement' to strengthen security, prosperity
Baku, October 23, AZERTAC
The British and German defense chiefs on Wednesday signed a historic defense treaty, named the Trinity House Agreement, that will strengthen security and grow economies, according to Anadolu Agency.
UK Defense Secretary John Healey and German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius met in London to sign the agreement, bringing the two nations "closer together than ever before."
Speaking at a joint news conference, Healey praised the treaty which is the first-of-its-kind with Germany and stressed that strengthening collective security through NATO is the cornerstone for the defense of both nations.
The deal "secures defense co-operation across all domains, land, sea, air, cyber, space," said Healey, adding that it will be put on a legal footing in the wider treaty between the UK and Germany.
He noted that the agreement is a milestone moment in the UK's relationship with Germany and a major strengthening of Europe’s security.
For his part, Pistorius also praised the agreement, stating that it represents an opportunity for both the UK and Germany to come closer.
With this agreement, both countries will further strengthen NATO's eastern flank by "further intensifying our cooperation" in the field, said Pistorius.
The German defense chief also noted that the Trinity House Agreement will be a part of an intergovernmental agreement between the two nations that is to be signed early next year.
Under the agreement, the German defense firm Rheinmetall will open a new factory in the UK to manufacture barrels for artillery guns, while the agreement will pave the way for both countries to work together to develop drones and a new long-range missile.
Separately, German maritime surveillance aircraft will also periodically fly patrols of the North Atlantic from Royal Air Force Lossiemouth in Scotland.
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