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Leaders from Germany and Poland signed a defense deal on Wednesday in an attempt to strengthen both countries amid the growing threat of Russian power. As NATO allies and EU partners, Germany and Poland felt responsible for both the region and the continent, according<\/a> to a joint statement released Wednesday. Russia\u2019s full-scale aggression against Ukraine fundamentally altered Europe\u2019s geopolitical reality, the statement added. <\/p>\n Strong German-Polish cooperation is essential to build a truly secure and effective deterrence on the eastern flank, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said Wednesday. The likes of this defense agreement have never been seen before, he added. The agreement will allow NATO forces to reach the eastern flank\u2014the easternmost border nations of NATO and the EU\u2014more quickly in the event of a crisis. It would also allow the Baltic Sea to be better protected and the East Shield\u2014a defense initiative to protect Poland\u2019s eastern border\u2014to be strengthened, according<\/a> to a Wednesday statement from Polish Defense Minister W\u0142adys\u0142aw Kosiniak-Kamysz. <\/p>\n What exactly does the agreement include? Pistorius referenced several plans under the agreement aimed at bolstering defense capabilities. Germany and Poland were jointly committed to extending NATO\u2019s fuel system to the Baltic states to guarantee a secure fuel supply in the event of an attack, he said. <\/p>\n The allies also planned to start constructing defensive positions on the border with Russia and Belarus over the summer, Pistorius said. Germany and Poland also planned to boost cooperation as joint users of the Patriot air defense system. Germany is also working to modernize the Taurus cruise missile and expand production for longer-flight guided missiles, Pistorius said. <\/p>\n The allies also planned to improve cross-border infrastructure and expand the transport network for entrepreneurs and citizens in both countries, according to the joint statement. These improvements will increase social mobility, promote trade, and also strengthen the militaries of both Poland and Germany, the statement added. <\/p>\n