Keir Starmer's defence pact could see 'British soldiers returning to German soil'

British troops could return to while German troops could make the reverse trip to Britain a defence expert has claimed.

Defence ministers from London and Berlin are set to sign a new deal that will cover a number of issues, including

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said this week: "Security in Europe cannot be taken for granted."

Defence Secretary John Healey said the new deal will secure "unprecedented levels of new cooperation with the German Armed Forces and industry."

The deal, named the Trinity House Agreement, comes as part of the Labour Government's wider effort to build stronger ties with Europe and NATO.

Speaking to the Daily Express, defence and security analyst Nicholas Drummond explained how the deal will affect the UK.

One possibility is the movement of British troops to Germany while German soldiers may also come to work in Britain.

He said: "The Trinity House agreement builds on the Lancaster House agreement with France. So the three largest defence spenders in Europe with the three largest armed forces will cooperate at a much deeper level.

"This is a demonstration of strength and unity, not weakness. Obviously, this has become much more important because we don't know what direction the USA will go after 5 November. It may refocus its strategy around China. And if Trump is elected, he may want Europe to assume greater responsibility for its own security.

"There are also practical benefits. Germany has always been a powerhouse of land domain capabilities, while the UK excels at naval shipbuilding and aerospace. So, there are lots of synergies between us. While we could see UK forces return to Germany, we could also see German forces in the UK, e.g. the Luftwaffe's P-8 maritime patrol aircraft could be based here to give it closer access to the North Atlantic."

Mr Drummond also explained why Sir and his Labour Government have pursued such a deal, adding that it does not indicate that the UK is going to rejoin the European Union.

He continued: "This agreement is part of a reset of relations between the UK and Europe.

"This has to be a good thing. It doesn't mean we are going to rejoin the European Union, but it sets the tone to discuss economic and trade issues that will help us achieve a better agreement in certain areas."

The Trinity House Agreement is the latest military pact uniting the UK, Germany, and France.

Other agreements include the 2010 Lancaster House agreement between the UK and France and the 2019 Aachen Treaty, which France and Germany agreed upon regarding military cooperation.

Rheinmetall, a German arms manufacturer, will play a major role in the newest deal between the UK and Germany.

The company will produce artillery barrels in the UK from 2027, creating 400 jobs.

Rheinmetall is already a key supplier to the UK military, making armored vehicles and tanks for the army.