Warsaw will join Paris in new information sharing and joint exercises to bolster regional security. Military consultations will start in the coming months.
Poland will join the French initiative to expand the European nuclear deterrence system, which envisions information sharing, joint training, and deeper defense cooperation among the countries.
The concept of the so-called “forward deterrence” is seen as a way to strengthen interaction with allies and bolster the region’s security architecture.
French President Emmanuel Macron noted that the relevant military consultations will begin in the coming months.
“Having Rafale jets with nuclear bombs over Poland is not my dream,” said Prime Minister Donald Tusk. “But I hope you do not have such plans.” At the same time, he added that “we live in a world where we need nuclear deterrence.”
– Donald Tusk
As part of this initiative, France is the only European Union member to possess nuclear weapons, and it is also considering expanding engagement with allies: Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, and Sweden. Warsaw, which does not participate in the American joint nuclear sharing program, seeks to bolster its own security amid growing threats from Russia.
In Paris they emphasize that ultimate control over the use of the nuclear arsenal remains with France. At the same time, they are discussing the possibility of basing French military aircraft on allied territory in the future.
Defending the Eastern Flank and the Rzeszów Airport
Tusk noted France’s readiness to support the defense of Poland’s eastern border, particularly along sections near Belarus and the Kaliningrad region of the Russian Federation. There are also plans to guard the airport in Rzeszów, which plays an important role in delivering weapons and humanitarian cargo to Ukraine.
Additionally, Paris and Warsaw have signed a series of agreements to deepen defense cooperation, including in the field of space technologies and military planning. By the end of the year Poland plans to acquire a French military telecommunications satellite.
It is expected that the defense ministers of both countries will present a joint cooperation plan for 2026–2028, which envisages expanding coordination and implementing concrete measures to strengthen defense interoperability and support Ukraine in the context of regional stability.
In the context of further developing this cooperation, the outlook for regional security remains crucial, as does the possibility for Ukraine to receive more steadfast and reliable support from its European partners.