UK and Germany Sign Landmark Treaty, Pledge Direct London-Berlin Rail Link and Closer Security Ties
LONDON, July 17, 2025 — The United Kingdom and Germany have signed a sweeping new treaty aimed at deepening cooperation on travel, trade, and security, including a landmark plan for a direct passenger train service between London and Berlin, reported by BBC News.
Dubbed the Kensington Treaty, the agreement was signed Thursday at the Victoria and Albert Museum by British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, marking Merz’s first official visit to the UK since taking office.
The treaty includes ambitious provisions to open e-gates for frequent travelers starting next month, expand school exchange programs, and launch a joint task force to explore the technical, legal, and security requirements for establishing the direct long-distance rail service—potentially operational within the next decade.
“This agreement could transform how millions travel across our continent,” said UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander. “A direct rail link to Berlin would offer a faster, greener alternative to flying—connecting Londoners with the heart of Germany, from the Brandenburg Gate to Checkpoint Charlie.”
Alongside transport cooperation, the treaty outlines tighter coordination on migration enforcement. Germany will criminalize facilitation of illegal migration to non-EU countries—closing a legal gap that previously allowed smugglers operating from German territory to aid Channel crossings to the UK.
The move follows a BBC investigation that revealed Germany’s role in the storage and distribution of boats used in illegal Channel crossings. More than 21,000 people have made the crossing so far in 2025—a 56% rise from the same period last year.
The UK and Germany also unveiled a new defense export pact covering jointly produced equipment like Boxer armored vehicles and Typhoon jets, expected to generate billions in future deals.
The treaty comes on the heels of a similar bilateral returns scheme announced with France, as Starmer faces mounting pressure to curb illegal migration.
