LONDON – A new defense and security agreement was finalized Wednesday between Britain and Poland as both nations work to address mounting threats from Russia’s increasingly hostile actions, according to officials from the British government.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer put their signatures on the treaty during a ceremony in London. The agreement will enhance border protection, combat organized criminal activities, and strengthen defense collaboration with the European Union, British officials announced.
This latest military partnership with an EU nation follows comparable pacts with France and Germany, highlighting Starmer’s campaign to mend relationships damaged by Brexit nearly a decade ago while responding to calls from U.S. President Donald Trump for European nations to shoulder greater responsibility for continental security.
Prior to departing Poland, Tusk stated that both countries view “Russia as a strategic threat,” and the two leaders were anticipated to address rising hybrid warfare, cyber attacks, and espionage activities.
“The challenges Europe now faces demands an even stronger partnership,” Starmer said in a statement.
“This treaty is the biggest step forward in our defence and security relationship with Poland in a generation, allowing us to confront modern security threats that may be less visible but no less dangerous,” he added.
British officials indicated the agreement will enable both countries to merge their expertise and industrial capabilities for developing and producing advanced next-generation weaponry, including enhanced air and missile defense capabilities.
Tusk emphasized that cybersecurity represents a major component of the treaty beyond traditional defense measures. Polish officials note their country’s position as a central point for military assistance to Ukraine has made it a primary target for Russian intelligence operations, cyber warfare, and propaganda campaigns.
This Polish agreement represents the most recent bilateral defense partnership Britain has pursued under Starmer’s leadership. The Prime Minister has achieved greater success in international relations than domestic politics, where political opponents are positioning themselves and could potentially force a leadership challenge.
Following demands from Trump’s administration for Europe to increase its self-defense capabilities, raising uncertainty about the NATO alliance’s future, both Britain and Poland have actively pursued defense agreements with other countries.
Britain and France reached an agreement last year to strengthen their defense partnership, including enhanced cooperation regarding their nuclear weapons programs, while Starmer also concluded a treaty to expand relations with Germany.
Poland finalized a defense agreement with France in 2025 to boost military cooperation and is currently developing a comparable treaty with Germany.
