Germany and Britain have signed a landmark friendship treaty, 80 years after the end of World War II. Chancellor Friedrich Merz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer sealed the agreement — largely negotiated by the previous German government — during a meeting in London on Thursday. The accord — dubbed the "Kensington Treaty" — includes plans for close security and defense cooperation, a mutual assistance clause in crises, and visa simplifications for school exchanges. Critically for the UK, it also features a pledge by Germany to assist in combating illegal immigration. The two countries already signed a defense deal in October, the "Trinity House Agreement" to strengthen their ability to cooperate and conduct exercises on NATO's eastern flank.