Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced plans for a new UK-Poland Treaty aimed at addressing growing security threats in Europe.
During a visit to Warsaw, Starmer will meet Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk to formalise discussions on the agreement, which focuses on military co-operation, countering illegal migration, and securing energy supplies.
The treaty is intended to strengthen the longstanding partnership between the two nations, with Starmer stating, “The UK and Poland are longstanding allies and our co-operation stretches back for generations. With ever-increasing threats to Europe’s security, now is the time to take our partnership to the next level.”
The treaty aims to:
- Bolster defence collaboration to counter Russian aggression, disinformation, and hybrid threats.
- Address illegal migration by tackling organised immigration crime and people smuggling gangs.
- Secure energy supplies and critical infrastructure for both nations.
Poland, which has faced heightened challenges from migrant crossings at its Belarusian border, has been a key player in Europe’s fight against organised immigration crime. The UK recently introduced a world-first sanctions regime targeting people-smuggling crime rings, which will complement the treaty’s provisions.
The treaty includes initiatives to strengthen defence industrial ties, such as the opening of a UK-Poland Joint Programme Office in Bristol. The office will deliver Poland’s next-generation air defence system as part of the NAREW programme—a collaboration between UK firm MBDA and Polish defence company PGZ. Under the programme, Poland will receive over 1,000 air missiles.
This builds on existing defence projects, including the MIECZNIK AH140 Frigate Programme and the NAREW Ground Based Air Defence Programme.
Starmer reiterated the importance of the UK’s relationship with Poland, stating, “It is only through closer collaboration with our most important partners such as Poland that we’ll protect the UK’s national security – the key foundation on which I’ll deliver my Plan for Change.”
The UK-Poland Treaty follows similar agreements with France and Germany and represents a key pillar of the government’s broader reset with Europe.
Can we hope that this is a definite step forward for the UK to get the CAMM-MR as part of its GBAD and even into the Mk41s on the T31 and T26s? This can’t be just be all for Poland can it? What a opportunity for the UK to also get something from this!
We will have to hope that this treaty and security guarantees work more effectively than they did in 1939!
I wonder if Poland will be brought into the JEF?
If it does then the JEF will have a massive army easily able to take on Russia on its own without the rest of European being involved. One thing JEF is lacking is aircraft. The UK should very much focus on that with a significant increase in both Typhoon and F35. East Europe doesn’t need the UK to supply another brigade. They need a big Air Force and AWACS.
Need more Typhoon and F35s
Need more Submarines,
Need more Tanks,
Need more troops,
Cannot have it all.
Yes we can, it is just a matter of will and priorities.
The other JEF countries have plenty of troops and plenty of tanks so we don’t have to have it all. The Baltics alone can call up 400,000
This sounds like it’s mostly driven by a desire to get Poland to buy British weapons. Not that that’s a bad thing.
‘The UK and Poland are longstanding allies and our co-operation stretches back for generations. ‘
Let’s see, Poland didn’t become an independent state until about 1917. It was conquered in 1939 by Germany, then became part of the Warsaw Pact until 1989 – both enemies. So basically ‘long standing allies’ and ‘generations’ is now defined as about 36 years?
That was my first thought as well. Also, wasn’t it Polish Lancers that decimated the British Heavy Cavalry at Waterloo?
All water under the bridge of course, but I do wish our politicians wouldn’t make such silly statements – they just look, well… silly!
Cheers CR
There seems to be a pattern developing here. First we sign a defence agreement with Germany and then Poland, next Italy given the Tempest program?. Dare I say that this might be a clever way to develop closer ties with EU member states as I am pretty sure that defence deals are not covered by the EU treaty. Build good relations on defence and hope to lever something better on other areas of trade..?
Just a thought.
Cheers CR