UK and Poland sign defence pact amid warnings over Russian aggression
The United Kingdom and Poland have signed a new defence pact aimed at deepening military and security cooperation between the two NATO allies. The agreement was signed by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Polish leader Donald Tusk in northwest London, at a World War II-era bunker on a former military base. It is intended to strengthen joint capabilities, cyber defence and coordination as both governments point to growing concerns over Russian aggression in Europe.
Sponsored
Starmer said there was "no greater challenge" for either country than Russian aggression, adding that the threat was visible not only in Ukraine but also beyond it and into their own countries. The UK government said the treaty would allow the two sides to combine armed forces expertise and industrial capability, including work on "next-generation complex weapons". It also sets out plans for large-scale joint exercises by land forces and greater use of uncrewed systems to reinforce NATO's eastern flank.
The pact also covers information-sharing and wider cooperation on organised crime, cyber security, migration and health security. Tusk thanked Starmer for what he described as a commitment to shared values including the rule of law, democracy and human rights. The agreement comes as Poland, which borders Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, continues to sit on the front line of NATO's eastern security concerns.
The deal matters because it adds another layer to the network of bilateral defence arrangements among European allies at a time of heightened concern about Russia's war in Ukraine and its wider implications. Britain has signed similar defence pacts with Germany and France in recent years, and the new treaty with Poland extends that pattern of closer military and industrial coordination. For Warsaw, the agreement reinforces ties with a major NATO power that has said it wants to help strengthen the alliance's eastern flank.
Sponsored
The focus on cyber defence, uncrewed systems and industrial cooperation suggests the pact is not limited to symbolic political support. It points to practical planning around modern warfare, resilience and supply chains, as well as the ability to respond to threats that cross military and civilian domains. The reference to joint work on migration and health security also shows the treaty is being framed as a broader security partnership rather than a narrow defence arrangement.
What remains unclear from the announcement is the detailed timetable for implementation and how quickly the planned exercises, industrial projects and information-sharing measures will begin. It is also not yet clear how much new capability the treaty will add beyond existing NATO commitments and earlier bilateral agreements. The next stage to watch is whether the two governments publish more specific plans on weapons development, cyber cooperation and the use of uncrewed systems.
Sponsored
