A meeting between German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak took place in Berlin on Wednesday, according to a press release published on April 23 on the UK’s public sector information portal.
This is Sunak’s first visit to Germany as Prime Minister. The meeting was dedicated to issues of cooperation in the field of defense and security, expanding the joint presence in the Baltic countries through exercises, as well as general issues such as illegal migration.
As a first step, the UK and Germany have announced plans to jointly develop 155mm remotely controlled wheeled artillery howitzer systems (RCH 155) for mounting on Boxer vehicles. In addition, representatives of the countries plan to modify and export Eurofighter Typhoon fighters. The UK and Germany will also continue to cooperate on air defence, including through the European Sky Shield Initiative.
UK authorities hope the joint program will create hundreds of jobs in the UK and Germany while equipping the UK armed forces. “Combat capabilities for future ground combat”the press release says.
Prime Minister Sunak will also meet leading businesses in Berlin. “to stimulate greater economic cooperation” two countries. German companies are expected to invest £8bn in the UK.
German energy company RWE has confirmed its intention to invest more than €8 billion in the UK by the end of this decade, while E.ON Energy will invest £1 billion over the next five years to support the transition to green energy.
Siemens Healthineers is investing more than £20 million in a new biomarker manufacturing facility in Bedfordshire. German property investment manager Patricia will invest an additional £140m in urban logistics in Greater London over the next 18 months. German space startup HyImpulse intends to invest up to €50 million in the UK over the next 3 years.
Additionally, life sciences company Siemens Healthineers is announcing plans to build a new biomarker manufacturing facility in Bedfordshire, which will attract investment of more than £20 million.
Sunak previously visited Poland, where he held talks with Prime Minister Tusk and the NATO Secretary General and announced a historic increase in UK defense spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2030.
Source: Rossa Primavera
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