**Title: UK and Germany Sign Landmark Defence Agreement**
Britain and Germany are set to sign a groundbreaking defence agreement aimed at enhancing security, investment, and job creation. The deal includes Rheinmetall, a German defence company, opening a new factory in the UK to manufacture artillery gun barrels, supporting 400 jobs. Both countries will collaborate on developing a new long-range missile and drones, with German maritime surveillance aircraft conducting patrols of the North Atlantic from Scotland.
The agreement signifies a shift towards closer military ties with Germany by the UK government, following Brexit. The UK already has a defence pact with France, but this marks the first such agreement with Germany. The two countries are among the largest defence spenders in Europe and major military donors to Ukraine.
The Defence Secretary described the agreement as a “milestone moment” that will bring the two nations’ militaries and defence industries closer together. In addition to manufacturing tanks and armoured vehicles, the agreement will see Rheinmetall building a new factory in the UK to produce artillery gun barrels, using British steel. This collaboration aims to strengthen both Europe and NATO, with a focus on bolstering defence on NATO’s eastern flank.
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