Summary

  • UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz have signed a treaty which they call "historic" and "the first of its kind"

  • The deal includes co-operation on security and defence, illegal migration, bilateral trade, and scientific research - here's a quick overview

  • Some UK passport holders will also soon be able to use German e-gates, and there are pledges on school trips and train links

  • In a news conference, Starmer welcomes German commitments to tackling people-smuggling gangs and says the two countries "mean business" on stopping small boats

  • Downing Street earlier confirmed Germany is set to tighten its laws to crack down on gangs smuggling migrants to the UK by the end of the year

Starmer and Merz sign defence and migration deal

Live Reporting

Edited by Alys Davies and Adam Durbin

  1. What has already been agreed?

    Starmer smiles wearing suit leaving Downing St.Getty Images

    Germany and the UK have already reached agreements on migration and defence ahead of the summit today.

    On migration, Downing Street say Germany will tighten its laws to crack down on smuggling gangs by the end of 2025. The changes will make it illegal in Germany to facilitate illegal migration to the UK.

    Downing Street said the move - which was agreed under former Chancellor Olaf Scholz's term - will make it easier for German authorities to investigate and take action against warehouses and storage facilities used by smugglers to conceal small boats intended for illegal Channel crossings to the UK.

    As for defence, it has been announced that German technology company STARK will open a new factory in Swindon, Wiltshire.

    It will create more than 100 skilled jobs and be the first site they have outside Germany. The move is part of a series of commercial investments in the UK, worth more than £200m, which are being announced to coincide with the visit.

  2. A new treaty and joint statement: What's expected today?

    This marks German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's first official visit to the UK since assuming the role in May.

    The chancellor and UK prime minister will sign a co-operation treaty, intended to bring the two countries "closer than ever," Keir Starmer says.

    Merz and Starmer are expected at Downing Street this afternoon, where they will have lunch and a private meeting. This is followed by a visit to a defence business outside of London.

    They will then make a joint statement on the summit, where the pair will take questions from the media.

  3. Merz to sign deal with Starmer on migration and defence

    Jamie Whitehead
    Live reporter

    German Chancellor Friedrich Merz speaks wearing a suit and points.Reuters

    Friedrich Merz will meet Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London, in his first official visit to the UK as German chancellor, to sign a deal on migration, defence and business.

    The two leaders are expected to carry out talks on security and the war in Ukraine, before unveiling an agreement to boost UK defence exports.

    A co-operation treaty will also establish a new UK-Germany Business Forum to facilitate investment in the two countries.

    Starmer says the new agreements will bring the two countries “closer than ever” and will be “the foundation on which we go further to tackle shared problems".

    Ahead of the summit, Downing Street confirmed Germany is set to tighten its laws to crack down on illegal migration to the UK by the end of the year.

    The government say the move, which was announced by the previous Chancellor Olaf Scholz, will make it easier for German authorities to take action against smugglers facilitating illegal Channel crossings to the UK.

    We’ll be following the events throughout the day, so stick with us.