Last Thursday the German Minister of Defence and chairwoman of the CDU, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, delivered a speech at an event organised jointly by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, the LSE and the Dahrendorf Forum. Speaking in front of a packed Old Theatre, she emphasised the liberal values at the core of the German British relationship and highlighted the need for continued cooperation in the face of global challenges. In times of increasing global competition with adversarial ideologies and hostile states, the Minister advocated strengthening the bilateral cooperation between Germany and the United Kingdom, maximising strategic coordination within tried-and-tested formats such as the E3, and ensuring close relations between the European Union and the UK post-Brexit. Refusing to turn security cooperation into a bargaining asset Ms Kramp-Karrenbauer claimed that using security cooperation to gain negotiating leverage would harm both sides while benefiting those who seek to undermine their common interests. Going even further, the Minister expressed her openness for allowing the UK to join ongoing European defence initiatives such as the next-generation fighter jet or the next-generation tank. Speaking frankly and leaving no doubt as to her belief in the future of the German British relationship, the Minister took the time to engage with her audience in the following Q&A, rounding off her visit to London.