Germany, Britain pledge to enhance defence ties-Xinhua - 新华网

BERLIN, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- German and British defence chiefs on Monday highlighted their close ties in the security sector and vowed to further deepen the bilateral military and defence cooperation.

While meeting with his British counterpart Wes Streeting in Berlin, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said the relations between two countries are at an all-time high, stressing the importance of enhancing defence cooperation.

In 2024, the two countries signed the Trinity House Agreement on Defence, pledging to strengthen long-term defence cooperation across a range of areas.

Under this framework, the two countries are not merely making plans, but translating them into concrete action, Pistorius said.

He noted the key project of jointly developing long-range precision strike weapons with a strike range exceeding 2,000 kilometers.

"It is no secret that NATO needs the capabilities to operate at greater distances," Pistorius said, noting that consultations with industry are progressing and both sides remain open to involving more European partners.

He also mentioned projects including joint equipment procurement of missiles, artillery, and bridging systems, which would enhance the interoperability between the two militaries.

In an op-ed published on Monday in the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Streeting announced that the two nations will incorporate AI into their joint initiatives to test, develop, and deploy AI technologies in their armed forces.

Noting an unprecedented threat since the end of the Cold War, Streeting has said at a joint press conference with Pistorius that they must deepen their defence industries' cooperation and build a stronger alliance.

Acknowledging Germany's leading role in European defence, Streeting said that the allies stand ready to defend NATO territory and he looks forward to future cooperation with Germany. ■