Story summary
Prime Minister Andy Burnham of the UK is set to meet with Chancellor Friedrich Merz of Germany in Berlin on Thursday to launch a new joint partnership aimed at countering cyberattacks and sabotage from hostile foreign actors, particularly Russia. The meeting comes after both leaders warned about the rising hybrid threats posed by Russia, following accusations that it was behind an attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport last August. The partnership will involve sharing information and coordinating action to monitor, deter, and disrupt potential dangers, as well as developing resilience against threats to critical infrastructure. Additionally, Burnham and Merz plan to discuss support for Ukraine, responses to instability in the Middle East, and the impact of disruptions to global trade routes such as the Strait of Hormuz. They will also convene a Regional Growth Forum to enhance business ties between the two nations.
Written for “UK Germany Security Partnership” on 2026-10-08,
grounded in this article and the 3 other(s) covering the same event.
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The joint partnership will involve sharing information and co-ordinating action to monitor, deter and disrupt threats and to develop resilience against threats to critical infrastructure.
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partnership → involve → infrastructure
Mr Burnham and Mr Merz will also discuss support for Ukraine, responding to instability in the Middle East and addressing the impact of disruption to global trade routes, such as the Strait of Hormuz.
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Burnham → discuss → Hormuz
The two leaders will also convene a UK-Germany Regional Growth Forum, bringing together British and German chief executives, focused on unlocking investment, strengthening industrial partnership and ensuring that the benefits of growth are felt in communities across both countries.
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benefits → convene → countries
The Kensington Treaty, signed in July last year, will be formally ratified on Thursday, committing the two countries to deeper co-operation on science, technology, defence, security and growth.
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Treaty → sign → science
Ahead of the visit, Mr Burnham said: “Attacks on our infrastructure, our businesses and our democracies are not a distant threat.
“They reach into people’s homes and workplaces, and they are designed to make us weaker and more divided.
“Britain and Germany are joining forces to find, expose and disrupt this activity.
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Britain → reach → activity
The Prime Minister’s trip comes amid an intelligence scandal that has rocked Germany; its former spy chief has been arrested on suspicion of espionage.
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chief → come → espionage
August Hanning, who headed Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service (BND) from 1998 to 2005, is “strongly suspected of treasonous espionage, spying out state secrets, attempted treason, and espionage”, the federal prosecutor’s office said in a statement.
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office → head → statement
Mr Hanning, 80, is accused of using classified intelligence to “draft an analysis” for an employee of one foreign intelligence service, and of “passing on information” to an employee of another foreign spying service.
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Hanning → accuse → service
A former aide, identified as Manfred D, was also arrested and has been charged with aiding and abetting attempted treason and treasonous espionage.
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aide → identify → treason
The prosecutor’s office said Manfred D worked as Mr Hanning’s chief of staff and later served as chief of staff for several subsequent BND presidents from 2012 until 2026.
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D → say → 2026
Mr Burnham’s visit also comes at a time when concerns about sabotage and hybrid threats are on the rise in both the UK and Germany.
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concerns → come → UK
Last month, the British Government summoned a senior Russian diplomat to protest over an “egregious and reckless attack” at Germany’s Leipzig airport, a major international freight hub used for providing support to Ukraine.
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Government → summon → Ukraine
A drone carrying explosive was found near Ukrainian cargo planes in August, but failed to explode and was subsequently defused.
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drone → carry → August
Investigators suspect a second drone collided with a cargo aircraft nearby and a third drone was reportedly found near the airport 10 days later.
uncertain
drone → suspect → airport
Germany’s interior minister Alexander Dobrindt said the Leipzig airport attack followed the “well-established pattern of Russian hybrid operations in Europe” and the assumption was that Germany would be targeted again.
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Germany → say → Europe
Moscow denied involvement and Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Germany of planting evidence to blame Moscow.
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Putin → deny → Moscow
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