WARSAW, June 17 (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Poland and Germany have signed a new bilateral defence agreement, a move designed to strengthen military coordination and reinforce the eastern flank of NATO. The agreement was finalized by Polish Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz and German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius in the Polish capital.
The signing took place on the 35th anniversary of the 1991 Polish–German Treaty of Good Neighbourly Relations and Friendly Cooperation. This new pact serves to update a 2011 framework, ensuring that military collaboration between the two nations keeps pace with the evolving security landscape in Central and Eastern Europe.
The pact focuses on practical, operational military cooperation rather than establishing new political mutual-defence guarantees. Central to the agreement is the enhancement of military mobility, which aims to improve logistical infrastructure to allow for the smooth movement of troops and heavy vehicles across borders. This logistical priority will be put to the test during the upcoming Grand Eagle joint military exercise, which is expected to involve more than 1,200 troops.
Beyond land-based mobility, the agreement establishes a joint naval command for the Baltic Sea to better secure critical maritime infrastructure. Cooperation will also expand into the domains of cybersecurity and space operations, as both nations look to improve their collective defence against modern, non-traditional security threats.
A notable component of the agreement involves border security, as it paves the way for German soldiers to provide technical assistance in the development of Poland’s Eastern Shield. This system of fortifications is designed to bolster security along the borders with Belarus and Russia.
“The defence agreement opens up new areas for cooperation. In the field of cybersecurity, joint responsibility, joint command in the Baltic, new technologies,” said Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz during the press conference.
The agreement also establishes a foundation for industrial integration. With Poland currently allocating nearly 5% of its GDP toward defence, the nation has become one of the highest spenders in the NATO alliance. This new pact provides a mechanism for German defence manufacturers to establish joint maintenance and repair hubs within Polish territory. By enabling German engineering to directly service heavy tanks and artillery intended for the front lines, the agreement creates a significant economic and industrial link between the two countries.
The diplomatic move follows a series of similar defence treaties that Poland has signed with France and the United Kingdom, while negotiations with Italy are currently ongoing. Relations between Warsaw and Berlin have become increasingly pragmatic since the current pro-EU government, led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, assumed office.
While the agreement is comprehensive in operational scope, it remains strictly at the ministerial level. The Tusk administration chose this specific framework to avoid potential domestic political gridlock, specifically to circumvent a likely veto from Poland’s President Karol Nawrocki, who has expressed opposition to formal state-level treaties with Berlin. By focusing on inter-ministerial cooperation, both governments have managed to solidify their military ties while navigating the complex internal political environment.
