Prime Minister Andy Burnham is scheduled to travel to Berlin on Thursday for talks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz focused on cyber threats and sabotage.
Downing Street has confirmed that Burnham's first official visit to Germany will prioritise deeper co-operation to counter rising hybrid threats from Russia.
Intelligence agencies from both countries have reported increasing dangers, including Germany's accusation that Russia launched a drone carrying explosives against Leipzig/Halle Airport last month.
The discussions follow shortly after Burnham spoke at the Labour Party conference, where he said he would outline options for a closer relationship with the European Union later this year, including the possibility of eventual rejoining of the bloc.
A spokesman for the German government has said that any future referendum on EU membership would be a matter for Britain to decide, while Berlin backs stronger ties between the United Kingdom and the European Union.
Burnham is planned to receive a military welcome at the Chancellery in Berlin ahead of his first face-to-face meeting with the chancellor.
On Thursday, the two leaders will officially approve the 2025 Kensington Treaty, which commits both countries to tackle hostile activity through expanded co-operation on science, technology, defence, security and economic growth.
In comments before the visit, Burnham said the United Kingdom and Germany are working together to locate, reveal and disrupt such threats.
He noted that attacks on infrastructure, businesses and democracies are not distant concerns.
They reach into people's homes and workplaces and are designed to make societies weaker and more divided.
The timing of the talks coincides with political challenges for both leaders.
Burnham replaced Sir Keir Starmer as prime minister in July after internal Labour Party pressure forced the former leader out following a brief two-year term after a landslide election victory.
Merz has faced similar questions over his future due to low approval ratings and losses in regional elections, although he has resolved an immediate leadership crisis.
The security talks also occur amid questions about Germany's reliability as an intelligence ally, following the arrest of a former spy chief on suspicion of espionage.
August Hanning has been accused of espionage, treason and supplying classified information to a foreign power, the German Federal Prosecutor's Office says.
He headed the Federal Intelligence Service from 1998 to 2005 and now works as a private consultant.
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