Today’s news of a planned defence co-operation agreement between Britain and Germany is a welcome sign that defence co-operation in Europe remains a priority regardless of any diplomatic fallout from Brexit .

A new deal outlining a partnership between the UK and Germany in areas such as cyber security, military training, and maritime patrols is expected after Theresa May triggers Article 50 on March 29. This is a promising development at a time when the threats faced by Britain and Germany, together with other European countries, remain as potent and forceful as ever.

Britain and Germany’s armed forces are currently collaborating very effectively. In Iraq and Syria they have developed a symbiotic relationship where the RAF run bombing missions, whilst Germany deploys its surveillance capabilities and military training programmes for Kurdish Peshmerga forces.

As well as building on existing international efforts, for Germany this defence co-operation agreement has a domestic dimension too. President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticised the government in Berlin for falling short of fulfilling its responsibility under the Nato pact. Angela Merkel’s government is anxious to demonstrate Germany’s growing defence ambitions and independence from Washington.