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 the UK has signed with France, Germany and the European Union, 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 combine 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 nuclear engineering company Babcock’s use of Polish shipyards to help it build the Royal Navy’s Type 31 frigate.
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.
By the end of the decade, the eastern European country has pledged to build a 300,000-strong military to act as a bulwark against Russia.