Press Release on Friendship Treaty between Germany and the UK

The German-British Chamber of Industry & Commerce warmly welcomes the German-British Friendship Treaty signed today in London by Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. It marks a historic milestone in bilateral relations and opens new perspectives for businesses in both countries.

The treaty establishes a strategic framework to deepen security, political, social, and also economic cooperation. It can act as a catalyst for new partnerships, innovation projects, and cross-border investment, particularly in the areas of defence, digitalisation, energy infrastructure, and industrial transformation. However, what is also important, is that further measures are being implemented to support youth exchanges - from school children and students to young workers - this will not only benefit the people on both sides of the Channel but it will also create medium- to long-term opportunities for further collaboration between businesses.

For the more than 2,500 German companies operating in the UK and many British investors in Germany, the treaty sends a strong signal of certainty, trust, and a commitment to deeper cooperation.

According to Dr. Ulrich Hoppe, Director General of the German-British Chamber of Industry & Commerce, “The Friendship Treaty signed today is a strong symbol of the close ties between our two countries. In times of global upheaval, it is vital that Germany and the United Kingdom place their economic relations on a stable and forward-looking foundation. For our members, the treaty brings clarity and new opportunities in a much closer political and economic framework.”