Merz visits UK as Europe closes ranks in face of threats

17/7/2025 16:57

Friedrich Merz embarks on his first trip to London as German chancellor on Thursday to sign a wide-ranging friendship treaty with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, part of a broader push to reset the EU's relationship with Britain.



Merz's day trip follows a three-day state visit to Britain by French President Emmanuel Macron, signalling greater cooperation between Europe's top three powers at a time of threats to the continent and uncertainty about their U.S. ally.



Europe has been confronted with new U.S. tariffs since President Donald Trump returned to the White House as well as questions about the U.S. commitment to defend its European allies, including Ukraine in the face of Russia's invasion.



"The agreement comes at a time when, as Europeans, we are particularly challenged in terms of security policy," a German government official said in a briefing ahead of the trip.



"Not stated in the preamble is that transatlantic matters are also in flux. This too is part of the context."



Germany has such friendship treaties with just a handful of countries like France, symbolizing the closeness of their ties.