The UK and Poland will deepen their foreign policy, security and
defence cooperation following the signing of a new partnership.
Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary signed a new bilateral “2030 Partnership” with
Poland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Zbigniew Rau and Minister
for National Defence Mariusz Błaszczak at Lancaster House today.
The partnership sets out joint priorities on issues ranging from
Belarus to China, to cooperation on defence capability and
operations. It builds on the 2017 UK-Poland Treaty on Defence and
Security Cooperation and three decades of close cooperation.
It emphasises the UK and Poland’s commitment to stand together in
upholding a resilient international system that protects freedom,
sovereignty and territorial integrity, defending rights for
countries and states trade fairly and determine their own
futures.
The partnership also will see cooperation towards building the
next generation of capabilities for our armed forces; increasing
the intensity and frequency of joint training exercises;
strengthening NATO’s deterrence and defence posture; and standing
united in our approaches to the Indo-Pacific.
Foreign Secretary said:
Just as the UK and Poland fought together to preserve freedom in
Europe during World War Two, so today the UK and Poland are
standing together once more, at the forefront of international
support for Ukraine.
Our 2030 Partnership commits the UK and Poland to even greater
defence, security and foreign policy cooperation into the future.
In a meeting ahead of the signing, the ministers discussed the
close cooperation between the UK and Poland, support for Ukraine,
and the defence and security of the Euro-Atlantic area. They also
discussed NATO priorities ahead of next week’s Vilnius Summit.
Defence Secretary 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 UK and Poland share an historic partnership, stretching back
to before the Second World War, which continues to the present
day with hundreds of British troops deployed to Poland. Recently,
this has included last year’s deployment of Challenger 2 tanks
and the ongoing deployment of Sky Sabre air defence systems to
Poland.
Both countries have also been working together to help secure the
development of air defence weapons for the future.
In April, the Prime Minister
announced the UK and Poland had signed a major £1.9 billion
export agreement to roll out a British air defence system,
made by MBDA, across the European nation. The export win will
supports hundreds of jobs across the UK, delivering on the Prime
Minister’s priority to grow the economy, and deepening ties with
our key European ally.
Poland’s President, Andrzej Duda, also visited
Downing Street in February to meet the Prime Minister, where
they reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Ukraine and their
support for Sweden’s accession to NATO.
The Defence Secretary and his Polish counterpart also signed the Air Defence
Complex Weapons Agreement in October. This enables the UK and
Poland to cooperate in the development and manufacture of current
and future complex weapons and deepen the interoperability of our
Armed Forces.
