Poland, Germany plan to sign defence agreement next year, leaders say

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz have announced plans for a new bilateral defence agreement next year as the two neighbours move to deepen cooperation on security, infrastructure and border protection amid Russia’s war in Ukraine. It is reported by Upmp.news with reference to “Polskie Radio”.

Speaking at a joint news conference in Berlin on Monday, Tusk said Poland and Germany were strengthening their bilateral ties and stepping up efforts to protect Europe’s eastern frontier.

He added that Warsaw and Berlin “speak with the same voice about the need to make Europe independent from Russian energy.”

Merz told reporters: “We have instructed our ministers to prepare an agreement on defence collaboration.”

He added: “We want to finalise this in the bilateral anniversary year of 2026,” referring to next year’s 35th anniversary of a Polish-German partnership treaty.

The remarks came as Polish and German ministers met in Berlin for intergovernmental consultations on a broad range of bilateral and EU issues.

Key topics included defence, cross-border infrastructure, migration and continued support for Ukraine, Polish state news agency PAP reported.

Officials said the agenda also covered the restitution of artwork looted from Poland by Nazi Germany during World War II.

During a meeting in Warsaw in May, Tusk and Merz announced a “new opening” in Polish-German relations and pledged to strengthen cooperation on defence and border security.

(gs)

Source: IAR, PAP, TVP Info