Poland and UK sign defense treaty naming Russia as 'long-term threat'
Prime Minister Donald Tusk and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer signed a bilateral defense and security treaty on May 27, marking the first time Russia has been explicitly named a strategic threat in such an agreement.
Poland and the United Kingdom signed a comprehensive defense and security treaty on May 27, 2026, with Prime Minister Donald Tusk declaring the agreement is "directed against Russia." The treaty represents a historic milestone as the first bilateral document of its kind to explicitly designate Russia as both a strategic and long-term threat to NATO and to both signatory nations.
The agreement strengthens military cooperation between the two countries and follows similar defense pacts Poland signed with France in May 2025. According to Polish media outlet Gazeta Wyborcza, Warsaw is working with London, Berlin and Paris to create what's been described as a "NATO within NATO"—a core group of European powers focused on collective defense. Poland is expected to sign a similar agreement with Germany in June 2026.
Strategic context
The treaty comes as Poland has dramatically increased its defense spending to 4.8% of GDP—the highest in NATO—and continues to receive advanced Western military equipment including F-35 fighters, Patriot missile systems, and hundreds of tanks. The UK and Poland both border or are close to areas affected by Russia's war in Ukraine, making defense cooperation a top priority.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the treaty a "major" agreement that will deepen security ties between the two nations. The pact is expected to cover joint military exercises, intelligence sharing, defense industry cooperation, and mutual support commitments.
For foreigners living in Poland, the treaty doesn't change daily life but underscores Poland's central role in European security architecture. The country's location on NATO's eastern flank and its robust defense investments make it a key partner for Western allies concerned about regional stability and deterrence against potential aggression.
