Britain and Germany have concluded a defense agreement to strengthen European security arrangements as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues.
Britain’s Defence Secretary John Healey and German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius signed the deal in London on Wednesday, and released a joint communique.
The agreement is intended to fortify deterrence against Russia.
The two countries say that they will cooperate in continuing to “ensure Ukraine has the military capabilities it requires.”
They also say they will jointly develop a longer-range missile and drones.
On the joint missile development, a British newspaper says allies envisage the weapon being able to travel as far as Moscow “in the event that Putin decides to launch tactical nuclear weapons.”
On bilateral naval cooperation, the communique says German maritime patrol aircraft will be deployed in Britain to strengthen surveillance of submarines in the North Atlantic and North Sea.
Healey said at a news conference: “Today’s agreement also sends a signal to our adversaries. We will deter and we will defend against any aggression together.”
The agreement comes just before the US presidential election in November. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is the pillar for European security, but there are concerns that US engagement in NATO may weaken depending upon the election outcome.
Pistorius said, “We must not take European security for granted,” and stressed that “we would have to do more, and this is our task.”