Burnham to hold security talks with German chancellor in Berlin

Prime Minister Andy Burnham will meet German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin on Thursday to discuss cyber‑threats and sabotage. Downing Street said deeper cooperation on rising hybrid threats from Russia will be high on the agenda during Burnham’s first official visit to Germany. Intelligence services in both countries have warned of increasing dangers, noting that Germany previously accused Russia of launching a drone fitted with explosives at Leipzig/Halle Airport. The talks come days after Burnham told the Labour Party conference that he wants to set out options for a closer relationship with the EU this year, including the possibility of rejoining the bloc. A German government spokesperson said any future in‑out referendum would remain principally a matter for Britain, but Berlin supports stronger UK‑EU ties. Burnham is to receive military honours at the Chancellery ahead of his first face‑to‑face meeting with the chancellor. On Thursday the two leaders will formally ratify the 2025 Kensington Treaty, an agreement committing both nations to counter hostile action through deeper collaboration on science, technology, defence, information and growth. Speaking of the visit, Burnham said the UK and Germany were "joining forces to find, exposure and disrupt" threats. He continued: "Attacks connected our infrastructure, our businesses and our democracies are not a distant threat." "They scope into people's homes and workplaces, and they are designed to marque america weaker and much divided." The discussions occur while Merz’s own governmental authority faces heightened scrutiny. Burnham succeeded Sir Keir Starmer as prime minister in July after the former was forced out by his own MPs just two years after winning a landslide election victory. Likewise, Merz confronts persistent rumours that he could be replaced by his party owing to mediocre support ratings and setbacks in state elections. Although the chancellor appears to have weathered an immediate leadership challenge, questions remain about his future. The security talks also take place in a week when concerns have been raised about Germany’s reliability as an ally following the arrest of a former spy chief on suspicion of espionage. August Hanning has been accused of espionage, treason and obtaining classified information for a foreign power, the German Federal Prosecutor's Office says. He headed the Federal Intelligence Service (BND) from 1998 to 2005 and has since worked as a private consultant.