UK and Poland sign up to bring militaries closer
Great Britain and Poland's militaries will be able to develop new weapons and work closer together on exercises – following the signing of a new 2030 Strategic Partnership.
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and Defence Secretary Ben Wallace signed a new bilateral 2030 partnership with Poland's Minister for Foreign Affairs Zbigniew Rau and Minister for National Defense Mariusz Błaszczak at Lancaster House.
The signing, on Wednesday, builds on the 2017 UK-Poland Treaty on Defence and Security Co-operation and three decades of close co-operation.
Defence Secretary Mr Wallace said: "As historic defence partners and Nato Allies, the UK stands with Poland to defend Nato's Eastern Flank and support Ukraine against Russian aggression.
"The 2030 Strategic Partnership strengthens our commitment to develop closer military deployments and exercises and deliver on immediate and long-term capability projects."
The new agreement outlines the joint priorities on issues ranging from Belarus to China, to co-operation on defence capability and operations.
The new 2030 Strategic Partnership will strengthen the two countries' ability to defend the rights of nations and states and protect freedom and sovereignty.
The partnership will also see co-operation toward building the next generation of capabilities for armed forces and increasing the intensity and frequency of joint training exercises.
Both countries have also been working together to help secure the development of air defence weapons for the future.
Minister for National Defense Mariusz Błaszczak said: "We also value British military presence in Poland within the EFP (Enhanced Forward Presence), but also the military presence which has returned in consequence of the Russian aggression in Ukraine.
"British soldiers have been there, have been in the field to support Polish soldiers," he added.
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