The agreement was signed on Thursday by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and his Swedish counterpart Ulf Kristersson during the second day of the Nordic-Baltic Group of Eight (NB8) summit in Harpsund, about 120 km west of Stockholm.
'Poland’s security is Sweden’s security': Swedish PM
Kristersson emphasized the strengthened ties between the two nations, saying: “Poland’s security is Sweden’s security."
The agreement elevates the strategic partnership from the ministerial level, established in 2011, to the level of prime ministers, marking a significant deepening of bilateral relations, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
Photo: PAP/Leszek Szymański
The partnership will foster greater economic collaboration, including initiatives to enhance competitiveness and innovation.
A Polish-Swedish business summit is planned for next year in Sweden, followed by another in Poland.
The summits will focus on supporting Ukrainian businesses and exploring innovative solutions to shared challenges.
Security cooperation is a key component of the agreement, with discussions on strengthening Baltic Sea security.
'Need for an energy union in Europe'
Speaking at a joint news conference with Kristersson, Tusk said: "Thank you for your understanding of the need for an energy union in Europe that will make us truly competitive on energy prices."
He added that Poland and Sweden "are open to cooperation in this area."
'Navy policing' plan for Baltic Sea region
Tusk reiterated his proposal for a "navy policing" program to secure the Baltic Sea to monitor and protect the region, saying that any joint efforts would align with NATO operations.
He also referenced recent damage to undersea telecommunication cables in Sweden’s economic zone, describing Sweden’s actions as critical for regional security.
During the summit, Tusk expressed gratitude to Norway for committing to enhance the security of the Rzeszów-Jasionka logistics hub in southeastern Poland, through which 90 percent of aid to Ukraine flows.
Norway’s contribution will include advanced security systems, coordinated within NATO frameworks.
Nations that 'think in exactly the same way'
The summit, involving Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, concluded with a shared sense of unity among the participating countries.
Tusk told reporters that these countries "speak exactly the same language."
He added: "For the first time, we are witnessing such a united and solid bloc of nations that, on the most challenging matters — such as the war in Ukraine — think in exactly the same way."
Putin's harsh rhetoric is 'a sign of weakness': Polish PM
Tusk also commented on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s threat of using ballistic missiles and urged European nations to maintain resilience, pointing to Ukraine’s resolve as a source of inspiration.
"The fact that he so often uses such harsh threats in his rhetoric is more a sign of weakness than of strength," Tusk said, referring to Putin.
He added: "We must remain mentally resilient in this game played by the Kremlin; it is, after all, quite transparent. The one who loses is the one who cannot withstand the psychological pressure."
(rt/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP