Starmer and Merz find their happy place: War


They mentioned “something that will get extra U.S. weaponry into Ukraine sooner is nice information,” confirming the U.Okay.’s help for the plan, in frequent with Germany, however in distinction to France, which was not on an early checklist of backers.

Merz and Starmer will be capable to pore over the nitty-gritty, resembling who pays for what and by which framework, together with extra particular particulars like whether or not Europeans will purchase U.S. weapons to be delivered to the battlefield, or whether or not they may give Ukraine weapons from current stockpiles and purchase replacements from the U.S.

Restricted motion

Whereas the 2 international locations are eager to trumpet their shared objectives on protection, different components of the connection will likely be trickier to navigate. 

Starmer is eager to debate efforts to sort out unlawful migration at any time when he meets international leaders — as he did when Emmanuel Macron was on the town final week — however joint endeavors on this space might show restricted.

The U.Okay. desires Germany to ramp up prosecution of smuggling gangs on its turf, though the substance of that plan was already agreed between the 2 inside ministries final 12 months. Downing Road pressured the mandatory adjustments to German regulation would now be made by the top of the 12 months.

Von Ondorza mentioned that whereas Merz was extra open than Scholz to creating migration “a central pillar” of their interactions, it was “much less clear” what Britain and Germany might do to assist one another on this entrance in contrast with France.