By Burak Bir
LONDON (AA) — Britain's prime minister on Wednesday praised bilateral ties with Germany, calling a new treaty that the two countries were signing a "once-in-a-generation" opportunity.
"A new agreement, a testament to the depth and potential of our relationship with deeper links on science, technology development, people, business culture, a boost to our trading relations," Keir Starmer said at a joint news conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin.
Starmer stressed that at the heart of the treaty would be a new defense agreement that "builds upon our already formidable defense cooperation."
He went on to say that it also expands that relationship to face the threats of a volatile world together.
"That, of course, means a shared resolve to stand up for the security of our people, and the wider European continent," he noted, adding that this begins with their "unyielding support" for Ukraine.
Starmer arrived in the German capital for bilateral talks and will later visit the French capital as part of a two-day European tour in a bid to "turn a corner on Brexit and fix the broken relationships."
Reiterating that he is committed to "reset" ties with Europe, he added that this does not mean reversing Brexit or re-entering the EU's single market or Customs Union.
"But, it does mean a closer relationship on a number of fronts, including the economy, including defense."
Starmer is expected to attend the Paralympics' opening ceremony in Paris on Wednesday night, before meeting French business leaders, including major investors in the UK economy.
He will also have a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace.