Please see below for the Prime Minister's statement at the press
conference with Chancellor Scholz.
Olaf, mein freund, it is a real pleasure to be with you again.
You know, we
go way back.
In the
darkest days of the pandemic, I was on the phone a lot with
you.
I
hugely valued your advice, as I designed our furlough
scheme...
...which took
some inspiration from your Kurzarbeit policy.
We've even
bonded over the UK's most famous export to your adopted hometown
of Hamburg: which was of course the Beatles.
When His
Majesty the King was here last year, on his first state visit as
the monarch…
…he spoke in
the Bundestag of renewing “the special bond of friendship between
our countries.”
Our
partnership is, I believe, a perfect symbol of that.
And at this
dangerous moment, the bond between our two nations is stronger
than ever.
We meet as
war rages on our continent.
And new
threats are rising around the world.
Olaf, I want
to congratulate you on your leadership…
...in
recognising the Zeitenwende…
…and you
taking your historic decision to increase Germany's defence
spending.
We stand here
together as the leading defence spenders in Europe...
...unshakeable NATO allies...
...and the
two largest European military supporters of Ukraine.
Together we
will continue to provide unwavering support for our Ukrainian
friends – as you said for as long as it takes.
We look
forward to the Ukraine Recovery Conference here in Berlin in
June.
And I know we
will continue to work closely together on other global
challenges, including putting the Middle East on a better
path.
And together,
we have acted to meet this moment.
We have taken
greater responsibility for our collective security.
And today
we're going even further…
…opening a
new chapter in the security relationship between our two nations
as you heard from Chancellor Scholz.
We've
committed to deliver a new framework for our cooperation on
defence…
…and we're
delivering an immediate expansion of our industrial
cooperation.
Together we
are announcing a £3 billion joint endeavour to procure the Boxer
artillery system…
…providing
our soldiers with this new cutting-edge capability…
…and
supporting hundreds of German and British jobs.
Because let's
be clear, this is a partnership that connects with all aspects of
our economy and our society.
We discussed
our cooperation in many other areas today...
...from
technology and AI, to irregular immigration, to trade and
investment.
And I'm
delighted to say that we have also secured £8 billion of new
investment in Britain, including into our energy sector.
So I very
much look forward to deepening our discussions in the coming
weeks...
…through the
G7 and NATO summits…
…the European
Political Community…
…and maybe
when our two football teams meet in Euro 2024!
Because for
all our shared values and our shared determination to meet the
challenges of this new era…
…the thing
that really unites us, as you say, is our people.
The love that
Liverpool has for Jurgen Klopp…
…or that
Munich has for Harry Kane.
It's a
reminder of the special bond of friendship that his Majesty has
described.
So, as close
allies, partners and friends...
...we will
continue to stand side by side to preserve security and
prosperity...
…in the UK,
Germany and across this continent.
Thank
you.
