UK, Germany vow to tackle people smuggling gangs

London (AFP) July 17, 2025

Britain and Germany signed landmark deals on Thursday to boost defence ties and crackdown on people smuggling gangs on the first official visit to the UK by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Merz had agreed to change German law this year so that small boats used to transport migrants across the English Channel can be seized in Germany. "It's a clear sign