London (TDI): The United Kingdom and Germany have planned to jointly build a new deep precision strike weapon with a range of 2000 kilometers, the British government said on Thursday. The announcement came as the two largest economies of Europe stepped up their defense cooperation.
According to the statement issued by the British Government, this new project is a practical manifestation of the commitment of the United Kingdom and Germany, made last year to build new weapons under their bilateral defense agreement, to strengthen Europe’s defense against the escalation of war in Ukraine.
During the 26th iteration of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group earlier this year, the US Administration had made it clear that Europe needs to take responsibility for its own security, which triggered a strong response from the European countries and encouraged them to find new ways to boost their domestic defense industries.
The Defense Minister of the United Kingdom, John Healey, and his German counterpart, Boris Pistorius, plan to officially announce the news of this new long-range weapon production at the Trinity House Defense Ministerial Council meeting in Berlin, today.
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According to John Healey, “In a more dangerous world, NATO and European allies stand united.” He further stated, “This partnership is helping us make defense an engine for growth – creating jobs, boosting skills, and driving investment across the UK and Germany.”
The statement, however, did not any further details regarding the project’s possible budget or its timeline.
Ministers of Germany and Britain are also expected to talk about the joint procurement of reconnaissance aircraft and torpedoes for maritime petrol, as well as announcing a deal for the purchase of Britain-made military bridges by Germany.
This project aims to not only support Ukraine’s defense but also protect the eastern flank of NATO. The statement read, “Together with Germany, we’re leading the way in supporting Ukraine, defending NATO’s eastern flank, and jointly investing in next-generation capabilities.”
Javaria Khalid is a writer and researcher, who specializes in Pakistan's Foreign Policy Analysis, transatlantic geopolitics, and Pakistan’s relations with the European countries and the EU. She can be reached at javariakhalid011@outlook.com
