The agreement, signed by Polish Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz and his German counterpart Boris Pistorius, updates a previous framework signed in 2011 and expands cooperation in areas including cybersecurity, military mobility, aerospace, logistics infrastructure and security in the Baltic Sea region, according to the Polish government.
The signing coincided with the 35th anniversary of the Polish-German Treaty on Good Neighbourly Relations and Friendly Cooperation, which helped normalise relations between the two countries after the Cold War and decades of tensions.
"The security of Europe depends to a large extent on this axis: Poland and Germany," Pistorius said after the signing ceremony.
"Poland and Germany are jointly taking responsibility for Europe's security," he added.
Poland's defence ministry said the agreement establishes a new legal framework for bilateral defence cooperation and reflects a changing security environment in Central and Eastern Europe.
The ministry said the pact between the two neighbours complements existing defence mechanisms within NATO and the European Union.
Kosiniak-Kamysz described the agreement as another step in building Europe's security architecture.
"Many generations waited for a moment like this, when our countries, after difficult historical experiences, could develop in peace, cooperation and good relations," he said.
He told reporters that the agreement opens new areas of cooperation in cybersecurity, emerging technologies and military mobility. It also covers cooperation within NATO's Baltic Sea command structure, established in 2024, he said.
'The enemy is in the east'
Kosiniak-Kamysz said that Poland's security concerns were focused on threats from the east rather than the west, in an apparent reference to criticism of Germany and the EU from parts of the domestic opposition, as well as growing anti-Ukrainian sentiment despite Russia's ongoing war against Kyiv.
"For Poland, the enemy is in the east, not in the west," he said. "After generations of work, we have reached a point where we are allies, partners and friends."
The two ministers also highlighted ongoing cooperation within NATO, including joint responsibilities at the alliance's command centre in Brunssum, the Netherlands, and efforts to strengthen NATO's eastern flank.
Pistorius said Germany's decision to permanently station an armoured brigade in Lithuania underscored Berlin's commitment to regional security and made cooperation with Poland on military mobility and fuel infrastructure particularly important.
He also announced that the next Grand Eagle military exercises would take place in November, involving more than 1,200 troops and focusing on the rapid deployment of allied forces across Poland toward the Baltic states.
The Polish defence ministry said the agreement does not include security guarantees beyond those already contained in NATO and EU treaties, nor does it provide for a permanent deployment of German troops in Poland.
However, ministry officials said the accord could facilitate future joint procurement of military equipment and deepen cooperation across a range of defence sectors.
The agreement comes as European countries seek to strengthen military cooperation in response to Russia's war in Ukraine and broader security challenges facing the continent.
Last month, Poland signed a defence and security treaty with Britain aimed at strengthening military cooperation and countering growing security threats across Europe.
Last year, Poland signed an agreement with France providing for mutual military assistance and cooperation in the defence industry, the economy, agriculture and science.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has said such agreements, alongside NATO, the country's alliance with the United States and the EU's SAFE defence financing programme, form the basis of the country's security strategy.
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Source: IAR, PAP