Germany, UK to sign mutual assistance defence pact

Germany and Britain will sign a defence treaty which includes a mutual assistance clause in the event of a threat to either country on July 17, the Politico news outlet reported on Wednesday.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and former German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had made a joint declaration in August, promising closer cooperation on issues from trade to security.
The broad agreement is being finalised, according to Politico, and a key area is defence.
It will include a section stating that any strategic threat to one country would represent a threat to the other and the agreement is expected to be signed on July 17, it reported, citing two London-based officials.
Although both countries are committed to NATO, the defence agreement highlights a shift among European states, including Germany under Chancellor Friedrich Merz, to work more closely together and rely less on the U.S. under President Donald Trump.