EditGermany and Poland sign defence pact, but old and new disputes linger
The new security agreement underscores Warsaw and Berlin’s role in European defence, even as tensions over reparations and migration remain unresolved
Germany and Poland marked the 35th anniversary of their landmark Neighbourhood Treaty by signing a new bilateral defence agreement, reinforcing their commitment to European security at a time of heightened concern over Russia and the future of NATO deterrence. The agreement, signed as Warsaw and Berlin celebrated three and a half decades of post-Cold War reconciliation, formalises cooperation in areas ranging from military exercises and cybersecurity to defence procurement and responses to hybrid threats.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul described the deal as confirmation of a reality that has already emerged in recent years.
“Together, Germany and Poland form the backbone of European defence and NATO deterrence against the Russian threat,” Wadephul told participants at the German-Polish Forum in Berlin, attended by around 700 guests.
The 14-article agreement includes provisions for joint military exercises in the Baltic Sea, closer defence-industrial cooperation, improved interoperability between armed forces and enhanced coordination against cyberattacks and hybrid operations.
While the pact highlights the growing strategic partnership between Europe’s two largest eastern flank powers, analysts note that it does not create new mutual-defence obligations beyond those already contained in NATO’s Article 5 and the EU’s mutual-assistance clause.
According to Polish media, a more ambitious treaty modelled on recent Polish defence agreements with France and the United Kingdom would likely have required approval from Polish President Karol Nawrocki, a conservative politician often critical of Germany. Such approval was considered uncertain.
The defence agreement was accompanied by a series of symbolic gestures intended to underline the broader partnership between the two countries.
Germany returned several cultural artefacts looted during the Nazi era, including a medieval manuscript containing one of Poland’s oldest religious poems and a valuable Jagiellonian ring attributed to King Sigismund I.
Berlin also announced plans to open a third Goethe Institute in Poland, in the eastern city of Lublin, adding to existing centres in Warsaw and Kraków. The move is notable at a time when Germany has been reducing the global footprint of its cultural institutions due to budget constraints.
“The German-Polish relationship has evolved into a genuine friendship,” Wadephul said.
Yet despite the celebratory atmosphere, both sides acknowledged that significant disagreements continue to shape bilateral relations.
Migration and border controls remain among the most contentious issues. Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski openly criticised Germany’s continued controls along the German-Polish border, arguing that Warsaw had done its part to secure the EU’s external frontier.
“We have done everything to seal the external border. And it is sealed,” Sikorski told journalists, expressing frustration that German measures continue to disrupt the daily lives of cross-border commuters. Wadephul responded cautiously, noting that any decision to end the controls falls under the responsibility of the two countries’ interior ministries.
Historical grievances also remain politically sensitive.
Sikorski again urged Berlin to provide a meaningful gesture of compensation for the remaining survivors of Nazi persecution, including former concentration camp inmates and forced labourers. “This must happen quickly,” he said.
Germany’s foreign minister acknowledged the country’s enduring responsibility toward the victims of National Socialism and indicated that discussions with parliament would take place during this year’s budget process. He also signalled support for compensation measures in comments to German media.
Infrastructure is another area where both governments see room for improvement. Despite the deepening political and economic ties between the two countries, rail connections remain slow. The 570-kilometre journey between Berlin and Warsaw still takes at least five hours. “That has to become faster,” Wadephul said, calling for a genuine high-speed rail link between the two capitals that could eventually extend further west to Paris.
Officials from both countries are expected to discuss transport projects in early July.
Beyond bilateral disputes, some participants at the forum pointed to broader concerns about Poland’s place within Europe’s evolving security architecture.
Recent meetings involving Germany, France and the United Kingdom on Ukraine and European security have raised questions in Warsaw about why Poland – one of Kyiv’s strongest supporters and a frontline state bordering both Ukraine and Belarus, was not always included.
Several participants argued that Poland expects to be treated as an equal strategic partner rather than a secondary player in discussions shaping Europe’s security future.
Former Polish ambassador to Germany Janusz Reiter, one of the architects of the 1991 Neighbourhood Treaty, captured that sentiment during the forum.
“Poland is no longer a country between Germany and Russia,” Reiter said. “It is part of the West.”
The original article in German by EUalive’s partner diplo.news can be found here.
Caption: Polish Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz (C-R) and German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (C-L) shake hands after signing a defence cooperation agreement at the headquarters of the Ministry of National Defence in Warsaw, Poland, 17 June 2026. The agreement covers, among other things, joint exercises and military mobility. The meeting takes place on the 35th anniversary of the Polish-German Treaty of Good Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation. EPA/Leszek Szymanski
Updated: June 18, 2026 - 18:36
