British-German friendship treaty: what's the deal?
Germany and the UK want to deepen their ties. PM Keir Starmer and Chancellor Friedrich Merz signed a 27-page treaty on friendship and bilateral cooperation on Thursday. Europe's commentators highlight various aspects of the pact - and see a third party involved.
Three friends for every eventuality
The Times sees a strategically significant triangle relationship in the offing:
“Britain and France are deepening nuclear co-operation and Mr Merz wants to join the party. ... And while the British and French arms industries are direct competitors in some fields, those of Britain and Germany are more complementary. ... The Anglo-German mutual defence clause included in the so-called Kensington treaty might be considered otiose, given Nato. But like the arrangement between London and Paris it signals the direction of travel, towards European strategic autonomy. Thrown together in a more dangerous world, facing similar domestic headaches, Europe's big three are coming together.”
Starting out afresh in a darker world
The Guardian notes that the agreement could offset some of the problems caused by Brexit:
“The Germans will be happy that school trips to the UK will be made less tricky. Britons will be relieved that regular visitors, especially for business, may at some point be able to register for E-gate entry. ... So-called lighthouse projects, which promise to forge new links between the two nations, include a business forum, a youth summit, culture initiatives and a reannouncement of a direct train link between London and Cologne. As a first step, the symbolism matters most. The UK and Germany - perhaps the two countries most closely aligned when Britain was inside the EU - are starting out afresh in a darker world.”
Youth exchanges to combat nationalism
This treaty is more than mere symbolism, emphasises the Süddeutsche Zeitung:
“The focus on one's own backyard, the return of nationalism and the splintering of societies are the greatest dangers of our time. These can only be averted through demonstrative and concrete cooperation between governments - particularly regarding issues that touch on the lives of younger people, such as the plan enshrined in the treaty to make school and youth exchanges easier again. The sense of cross-border solidarity can only survive if young people are allowed to experience it.”
A closer alliance than Nato
The "friendship treaty" looks more like a defence pact, La Stampa puts in:
“Defence cooperation is indeed one of the pillars of the agreement reached yesterday, in a clause of which the two countries commit to mutual defence, including military defence, that goes beyond their current obligations as Nato members. A 'strategic threat' to one of the two countries will also be considered as such by the other country.”