Key facts
- U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham will visit Berlin in early October.
- Burnham will meet with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
- This will be Burnham's first visit to Germany since becoming prime minister on July 20.
- The Kensington Treaty, signed in July 2025, aims for closer cooperation in defense, security, economic ties, transport, and migration.
- The Trinity House Agreement, signed in October 2024, established a framework for military and defense-industrial cooperation.
- German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's party has faced electoral losses, with the AfD gaining support.
U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham is preparing for his first visit to Germany since taking office in July, with plans to meet Chancellor Friedrich Merz in early October. The trip aims to inject new political momentum into the close relationship between the two nations, particularly in defense and security.
Burnham, who replaced Keir Starmer on July 20, has recently engaged in diplomatic efforts, meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, French President Emmanuel Macron, and U.S. President Donald Trump. His visit to Berlin will underscore the importance of the U.K.'s partnership with Germany, a key European ally.
The bilateral relationship has strengthened significantly over the past two years, notably through the Kensington Treaty signed in July 2025, which promotes cooperation in defense, security, economic ties, transport, and migration. The Trinity House Agreement, established in October 2024, further solidified military and defense-industrial collaboration, including joint weapons projects and coordination in supporting Ukraine.
However, Burnham will meet Merz at a time when the German government is facing domestic challenges. Merz's Christian Democrats recently experienced losses in state elections, while the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has seen a rise in national support, according to POLITICO's Poll of Polls.