A Brexit Brake is Released

The Joint Declaration on Enhanced Defense Cooperation concluded on July 24 between Germany and the United Kingdom ends years-long stalling on such collaboration due to Brexit. London’s new Labour government has wasted no time in kick-starting the bilateral relationship. Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government signaled right away a clear willingness to strengthen its ties with the EU and individual member states, but cooperation with Berlin is easier with a left-leaning chancellor in power.

The declaration outlines the broad direction of travel rather than specific projects. It calls for enhancing interoperability of the two countries’ militaries, cooperation on emerging threats, coordination in the 3+3 defense ministers’ format (which brings together the three Baltic nations, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Canada) in the framework of NATO’s forward land forces and advance plans, and further support for Ukraine.

The ambition, laid out in the declaration, to hold annual meetings between defense ministers and include a senior-level group to steer defense cooperation is itself a notable advance in Anglo-German relations. Both countries have similar cooperation with France but were lacking a more structured exchange between themselves. 

Some may interpret the declaration as an effort to seek alternatives to collaboration with Paris, especially given the recent political turmoil there, but it more a sign of an overdue reset of bilateral relations. In fact, the rapprochement might even benefit trilateral cooperation among the so-called E3, all of which are major players in European defense. The declaration may even contribute to forming a core group of states that pave the way for stronger European defense forum that could also include Poland and Italy. 

The declaration is certainly good news at a time when strengthening NATO’s European pillar is essential. The United Kingdom must be part of a future European security order. It should seize all opportunities for cooperation in any format—bilateral, minilateral, with NATO, and with the EU.