LONDON – German submarine-hunting planes will patrol the North Atlantic from a base in Scotland under a new defense deal between Britain and Germany sealed in response to the threat growth of Russia.

British and German defense ministers signed the agreement in London on Wednesday in what officials call the first defense agreement of its kind between the two NATO member countries aimed at strengthening European security amid growing Russian aggression.

The deal comes as the war sparked by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 continues and Ukraine and its European allies are concerned about the outcome of November’s U.S. presidential election.

British Defense Secretary John Healey said the need for Europe to strengthen its own security and for the UK to play a greater role within NATO “is the driving force behind our strategy British defense first focused on NATO, (and) behind our UK reset. relations with Europe. »

“In a more dangerous world, allies are our strategic strength and we must do more together,” Healey said at a news conference in London alongside German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.

Under the terms of the agreement, German submarine fighter planes would “periodically” operate from a Scottish military base to patrol the North Atlantic. Allies will work more closely together to protect vital submarine cables in the North Sea.

The two countries say they will also cooperate to prioritize the development of long-range strike weapons capable of traveling further than the UK’s existing Storm Shadow missiles. German defense giant Rheinmetall is also set to open a factory producing artillery guns using British steel.

Officials say the deal will mean British and German forces committed to NATO in Estonia and Lithuania will train and operate together more closely, ensuring that “land forces on NATO’s eastern flank remain a powerful deterrent and are ready to fight and win if necessary.”

Britain and Germany are also expected to collaborate on the development of new ground and aerial drones.

“We must not take security in Europe for granted,” Pistorius said. “Russia is waging a war against Ukraine, significantly increasing its weapons production and repeatedly launching hybrid attacks against our Eastern European partners.

“With the Trinity House agreement, we are showing that NATO allies have recognized the demands of our time and are committed to improving their deterrence and defense capabilities. »