As Russia’s threat over Europe escalates, a fresh defense pact between Britain and Germany aims to bolster security in the North Atlantic.

This agreement will enable German submarine-hunting patrols to operate from a base in Scotland, according to officials. The pact, which is being hailed as the first of its kind, will be signed by defense ministers from both countries in London on Wednesday.

Boris Pistorius, the German Defense Minister, stated, “The U.K. and Germany are moving closer together. With projects across the air, land, sea, and cyber domains, we will jointly increase our defense capabilities, thereby strengthening the European pillar within NATO.”

He added, “It is particularly important to me that we cooperate even more closely to strengthen NATO’s eastern flank and to close critical capability gaps, for instance in the field of long-range strike weapons.”

The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, which began with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, has significantly impacted global markets, food security, and energy, and continues to pose a threat to stability across Europe and the European Union.

Under this new agreement, German submarine hunter aircraft will “periodically” operate from a Scottish military base to patrol the North Atlantic. Both nations will collaborate closely to safeguard the crucial underwater cables in the North Sea, reports the Express US.

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The UK and Germany have plans to cooperate in creating long-range strike weapons that can travel further than the UK’s Storm Shadow missiles. Rheinmetall, a German arms manufacturer, is also anticipated to open a factory for producing artillery gun barrels using British steel.

As part of the agreement, British and German forces committed to NATO in Estonia and Lithuania are expected to work together more closely. Officials aim to ensure “land forces on NATO’s eastern flank remain a strong deterrent and are ready to fight and win if required.”

The two allies are also likely to develop new land-based and aerial drones together. British Defence Minister John Healey described the agreement as “a milestone moment”.

He said, “It secures unprecedented levels of new cooperation with the German Armed Forces and industry, bringing benefits to our shared security and prosperity, protecting our shared values and boosting our defense industrial bases.”