Germany, Poland set to sign landmark defence pact

Germany and Poland are preparing to sign a new defence agreement aimed at strengthening European military cooperation amid rising tensions with Russia and growing uncertainty over the United States’ role in Europe, according to the Associated Press (AP).

In recent years, relations between the two neighbouring countries have become more pragmatic, influenced by Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine in 2022 and the rise to power of a liberal government in Poland in 2023.

While the United States is considering a partial reduction of its military presence in Europe, Poland is seeking to ensure that key European allies take a greater role in defending the continent’s eastern flank.

The agreement is expected to include plans for the defence of the Baltic Sea region, as well as cooperation in military mobility and infrastructure, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies.

It is also expected to reaffirm mutual defence commitments already set out in NATO and EU treaties, of which both countries are members.

However, unlike bilateral treaties recently signed by Poland with France and the United Kingdom, the German-Polish agreement will be intergovernmental in nature, focused on practical military cooperation and will not include formal political mutual defence clauses.

By Jeyhun Aghazada