Britain and Poland signed a deal to jointly manufacture the next generation of air defence missiles as part of a defence pact to tackle threats from Russia.
The new military agreement allows the two countries to combine their armed forces’ expertise and industrial capability, including developing and manufacturing “next-generation complex weapons”.
The treaty also enhances co-operation between London and Warsaw on hybrid threats, illegal migration and organised crime.
Before travelling to Britain on Wednesday, Donald Tusk said that the deal would focus on Britain and Poland’s joint defence against the threat posed by Russia.
A day earlier, the Polish prime minister told a meeting of his government that the agreement was a “historic moment” between the two allies.
The new military agreement between Britain and Poland includes developing and manufacturing ‘next-generation complex weapons’ – Jaimi Joy/POOL/EPA/Shutterstock
European countries have had to come to terms with Vladimir Putin’s revanchist Russia and Donald Trump’s constantly diminishing interest in the Nato military alliance.
The deal with Poland is the latest in a string of similar agreements that Britain has signed with France, Germany and the EU, as Sir Keir Starmer seeks to bolster defence and security ties with the country’s continental neighbours.
The Prime Minister said: “Britain and Poland are already close allies and friends, but the challenges Europe now faces demand an even stronger partnership.
“This treaty is the biggest step forward in our defence and security relationship with Poland in a generation, allowing us to confront modern security threats that may be less visible but no less dangerous, and our collective work together will keep our countries safe for years to come.”
The Government said that the defence section of the treaty would allow the countries to combine their expertise to develop and build sophisticated weapons and co-produce the next generation of mid-ranged air defence missiles.
It will build on similar manufacturing agreements between London and Warsaw, such as British aerospace, defence, and the use of Polish shipyards to help build the Royal Navy’s Type 31 frigate by Babcock, the nuclear engineering company.
Poland’s armed forces are seen as one of the emerging powers in Europe, with Warsaw spending more than 4 per cent of its GDP on defence.
The eastern European country has pledged to build a 300,000-strong military to act as a bulwark against Russia by the end of the decade.
The Government added that the two countries would also step up co-operation on so-called “grey zone” attacks that are often attributed to Russia.
Poland has been on the front line of a series of suspicious and often unexplained attacks, such as arson, cyber hacks and railway sabotage, because of its role as Europe’s main logistics hub for sending support to Ukraine.
This campaign has spread to Britain, where authorities linked an arson attack on an East London warehouse used to supply aid to Ukraine to Russia.
British and Polish forces will also step up the number of joint exercises, practising drone use, electronic warfare and engineering support.
Beyond defence, the treaty will focus on cyber security and disinformation, which it describes as the challenges of the future.