German president begins State visit to the United Kingdom as security ties strengthen
German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier arrived in the United Kingdom on Wednesday for a three-day state visit, marking the first trip of this kind by a German head of state in nearly three decades. The visit is widely viewed as a symbolic moment in the renewed relationship between Berlin and London following years of diplomatic tension after Brexit.
Steinmeier and his wife, Elke Büdenbender, were welcomed on the tarmac by the Prince and Princess of Wales before traveling to Windsor to meet King Charles III and Queen Camilla. The streets were decorated with British and German flags, reflecting the ceremonial grandeur planned for the occasion, including a carriage procession and a state banquet.
Beyond the pageantry, the visit underscores the growing alignment between Germany and the UK on major geopolitical issues, particularly their joint support for Ukraine in the face of Russia’s invasion. Steinmeier is also due to meet Prime Minister Keir Starmer for talks focused on defense cooperation and security.
The visit follows King Charles III’s state trip to Germany in 2023, seen as a turning point after a period in which the UK drifted away from European political conversations. Since then, both governments have taken steps to deepen cooperation, culminating in a bilateral defense pact in 2024 and a friendship treaty the following year.
Steinmeier’s itinerary also includes a stop in Coventry, a city deeply marked by World War II bombings and now a symbol of peace and reconciliation. Cultural ties and memory work—key priorities for the German president—will be highlighted during this visit.
The delegation will then head to Oxford to meet representatives of major German companies operating in the UK. Several industrial groups are expected to announce new investments, including a technology project by a major German automaker aimed at boosting the electric vehicle sector and creating new jobs.
Football, a shared passion of both nations, will round out part of the program, with former and current German players accompanying the president during an event at a London school.
-
09:52
-
09:50
-
09:20
-
08:50
-
08:20
-
07:50
-
20:32
-
16:40
-
16:20
-
16:00
-
15:40
-
15:20
-
15:00
-
14:40
-
14:20
-
14:00
-
13:30
-
13:00
-
11:40
-
11:20
-
11:00
-
10:40
-
10:20
