Prime Minister鈥檚 conference speech in Germany: 24 April 2024
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's speech at his press conference with Chancellor Scholz in Germany.
Olaf, mein聽freund, it is a real pleasure to be with you again.
You know, we go way back.
In聽the darkest days of the pandemic,聽I was on the phone a lot with you.
聽I hugely valued your advice, as I designed our furlough scheme鈥�
鈥hich took some inspiration from your Kurzarbeit policy.
We鈥檝e even bonded over the UK鈥檚 most famous export to your adopted hometown of Hamburg:聽which聽was of course the Beatles.
When His Majesty the King was here last year, on his first state visit as the monarch鈥�
鈥e spoke in the Bundestag of renewing 鈥渢he special bond of friendship between our countries.鈥�
Our partnership is,聽I believe,聽a perfect symbol of that.
And at this dangerous moment, the bond between our two nations is stronger than ever.聽
We meet as war rages on our continent.
And new threats are rising around the world.聽
Olaf, I want to congratulate you on your leadership鈥�
鈥n recognising the Zeitenwende鈥β�
鈥nd you taking your historic decision to increase Germany鈥檚 defence spending.
We stand here together as the leading defence spenders in Europe鈥�
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鈥nd the two largest European military supporters of Ukraine.聽
Together we will continue to provide unwavering support for our Ukrainian friends 鈥� as you said for as long as it takes.
We look forward to the Ukraine Recovery Conference here in Berlin in June.
And I know we will continue to work closely together on other global challenges, including putting the Middle East on a better path.聽
And together, we have acted to meet this moment.聽
We have taken greater responsibility for our collective security.聽
And today we鈥檙e going even further鈥�
鈥pening a new chapter in the security relationship between our two nations as you heard from Chancellor Scholz.
We鈥檝e committed to deliver a new framework for our cooperation on defence鈥�
鈥nd we鈥檙e delivering an immediate expansion of our industrial cooperation.
Together we are announcing a 拢3 billion joint endeavour to procure the Boxer artillery system鈥�
鈥roviding our soldiers with this new cutting-edge capability鈥�
鈥nd supporting hundreds of German and British jobs.
Because let鈥檚 be clear, this is a partnership that connects with all aspects of our economy and our society.
We discussed our cooperation in many other areas today鈥�
鈥rom technology and AI, to irregular immigration, to trade and investment.
And I鈥檓 delighted to say that we have also secured 拢8 billion of new investment in Britain, including into our energy sector.
So I very much look forward to deepening our discussions in the coming weeks鈥�
鈥hrough the G7 and聽NATO聽summits鈥�
鈥he European Political Community鈥�
鈥nd maybe when our two football teams meet in Euro 2024!聽
Because for all our shared values and our shared determination to meet the challenges of this new era鈥�
鈥he thing that really unites us,聽as you say,聽is our people.
The love that Liverpool has for Jurgen Klopp鈥�
鈥r that Munich has for Harry Kane.聽
It鈥檚 a reminder of the special bond of friendship that his Majesty has described.
So, as close allies, partners and friends鈥�
鈥e will continue to stand side by side to preserve security and prosperity鈥β�
鈥n the UK, Germany and across this continent.聽
Thank you.