On Wednesday, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Rishi Sunak, and the Chancellor of Germany, Olaf Scholz, are scheduled to convene in Berlin with the purpose of fortifying defense and security alliances.
The two parties will issue a statement regarding their intentions to commence the development of the Remote-Controlled Howitzer 155 mm Wheeled Artillery Systems (RCH 155) and initiate talks regarding a cooperative endeavor on energy projects, including German energy investment.
The United Kingdom and Germany maintain a close association on diverse matters, including their endorsement of Ukraine. Nonetheless, to date, they have opted for promoting collaboration through the frameworks of NATO and the G7 rather than prioritizing the augmentation of bilateral relations.
According to Mr. Sunak, the two nations will commence a "new chapter" in their collaborative alliance.
Mr. Sunak has previously expressed his firm commitment to raising defense expenditures to 2.5 percent of the gross domestic product per year by the year 2030.
Collectively, our strength is amplified, be it in safeguarding against Russian aggression or propelling economic prosperity and advancements in technology.
Mr. Sunak has not yet made a visit to Germany after assuming the position of British Prime Minister in October 2022.
The two leaders will also partake in deliberations regarding collaboration in the realm of energy and renewable resources, encompassing the facilitation of exports related to green hydrogen. Moreover, they will collectively tackle the matter of combating organized immigration crime.
Mr. Sunak will make efforts to attract German enterprises to Berlin in order to cultivate more profound economic cooperation. The office of the Prime Minister has announced that German firms will reveal fresh investments in the United Kingdom, amounting to an approximate sum of £8 billion.
Germany is the United Kingdom's most significant trading ally on the European continent.
Furthermore, it boasts the status of being the second-most prominent provider of military aid to Ukraine, ranked only below the United States. In a recent development, there has been a pledge to supply the conflict-afflicted nation with a supplementary Patriot missile system, thus bolstering its air defense capacity.
In the wake of Russia's comprehensive invasion of Ukraine, Mr. Scholz has made a significant announcement regarding the initiation of a momentous national rearmament. Consequently, due to this development, Germany will effectively fulfill its NATO obligation to allocate 2% of its GDP towards defense.
Mr. Sunak conveyed his intention to express his regards to Mr. Scholz for the modification of German policy during a press conference conducted in Warsaw.
During his trip, the Prime Minister made a commitment to provide an extra sum of £500 million ($622 million) in the form of a military aid package to Kyiv.
Mr. Sunak stated that Germany and the UK are the two largest defense spenders in Europe and are the two countries that have been leading in providing support to Ukraine. He expressed confidence that this support would continue.