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The countries want to strengthen their military partnership, conduct joint exercises on NATO’s eastern flank, and develop new long-range missiles.
On October 23, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and his British counterpart John Healey signed a defense cooperation agreement in London. The document, called the «Trinity House Agreement», is named after the historic building in the British capital where it was signed and where regular meetings are planned in this format.
«Through projects in the air, land, sea, and cyber domains, we will jointly enhance our defense capabilities, thereby strengthening the European component within NATO», Pistorius said, emphasizing that the projects planned under the pact will also be open to other allies and partners in NATO and the European Union.
In a joint article for the German newspaper Handelsblatt, marking the event, Pistorius and Healey noted that in an environment of growing instability, crises and conflict, closer cooperation in Europe and within NATO is more important than ever.
Now for the details. The German conglomerate Rheinmetall will set up production of tanks and APCs (in particular Boxer transformer infantry fighting vehicles) at several British plants. A facility will be built in the UK for the production of artillery barrels (which need to be replaced periodically on existing systems), creating an additional 400 jobs.
The parties intend to integrate air defense systems and develop new long-range weapons capable of striking deep into enemy territory. These will be a new category of weapons with greater range and precision than the long-range Storm Shadow missile systems transferred to Kiev by the British. London has also joined a European project for the joint development, procurement, and production of long-range missile weapons (the European Long-Range Strike Approach, or ELSA), which includes France, Italy, and Poland in addition to Germany.
Britain and Germany are also planning joint exercises on NATO’s eastern flank — ostensibly to deter Russia. Training areas in Lithuania and Estonia are mentioned. Germany is known to be active in Lithuania. Last year, a plan was signed with Vilnius for the deployment of a Bundeswehr brigade. By 2027, 4,800 soldiers will be stationed there. The core will consist of a tank battalion and a mechanized armored infantry battalion. Up to 80% of the personnel will be stationed at the training area near the village of Rūdninkai, Šalčininkai district, near the Belarusian border, and the rest in Rukla, Jonava district (central Lithuania). For its part, Britain announced in February 2022 that it would double its military presence in Estonia from 900 to 1,800 troops. In September, a new military base was opened 45 kilometers from the Russian border, which can accommodate up to 1,000 soldiers from both the Estonian army and NATO allies. Estonian ports are also of interest for joint Anglo-German maneuvers.
The creation of joint tank units supported by drones is planned. The countries will cooperate in the development of UAVs, striving to ensure their compatibility with combat aviation.
The agreement provides for the regular deployment of Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft from RAF Lossiemouth in north-east Scotland to track Russian submarines in the North Atlantic and protect undersea cables from sabotage.
Further support for Ukraine is stipulated in a separate clause. In particular, there will be joint work on equipping the six Sea King multi-role helicopters transferred from Berlin to the Ukrainian armed forces with modern missiles to be used for reconnaissance in the Black Sea.
At a joint press conference following the signing of the landmark document, both ministers agreed that the Trinity House Agreement would contribute to «greater security in Europe, allowing London and Berlin to unite in the face of the policy of ‘divide and destroy’ pursued by Russian President Vladimir Putin».
«We offer something different: solidarity and trust», said Pistorius.
His British counterpart Healey called the agreement «epochal». According to him, the agreement involves «cooperation with German industry and the Bundeswehr on an unprecedented scale».
Indeed, the Trinity House agreement sets a course for closer cooperation and also symbolizes a «reset» in Britain’s relationship with Europe after Brexit. It follows a series of cross-defense agreements between Europe’s three largest military powers. These include the 2010 Lancaster House Treaty on defense and security between Britain and France, and the 2019 Aachen Treaty on cooperation between Germany and France.
…Looking at the emerging Anglo-German military bloc (solid and unbreakable?), one gets the impression that the two countries, one of which happens to possess some nuclear arsenal, have found each other to remind the world of their former greatness and to try to smooth over current problems — such as the low combat readiness of the Bundeswehr or the weak capabilities of the British defense industry.