Germany, UK complete ratification of Kensington Treaty

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham have exchanged instruments of ratification in Berlin, completing the ratification of the Kensington Treaty.

According to Report, citing the office of the British prime minister, the friendship and cooperation treaty between Germany and the United Kingdom, signed in 2025, officially entered into force on October 8.

The agreement provides for deeper bilateral cooperation in defense, the economy, quantum technologies, artificial intelligence and space exploration.

It also envisages easing visa requirements for school exchange programs and developing direct rail links between the two countries.

Burnham and Merz also agreed to step up monitoring of and efforts to counter hybrid threats.

The friendship and cooperation treaty was signed in London's Kensington district in July 2025, becoming the largest bilateral agreement between the two countries since World War II.