Poland and Germany Sign New Defence Cooperation Agreement
On the 35th anniversary of their landmark 1991 treaty, Poland and Germany signed an updated defence agreement covering military mobility, cybersecurity, and joint operations.
Poland and Germany signed a new defence cooperation agreement on June 17, 2026, strengthening security ties between the two NATO allies on the 35th anniversary of their historic Treaty of Good Neighbourship and Friendly Cooperation.
Expanding Military Cooperation
The agreement was concluded on the anniversary of Poland and Germany signing the Treaty of Good Neighbourship and Friendly Cooperation in 1991, which was followed in 2011 by an intergovernmental agreement on defence cooperation; the new document signed on Wednesday effectively updates the 2011 agreement, adding further areas of cooperation.
Polish deputy defence minister Paweł Zalewski said the new agreement focused particularly on cooperation between the Polish and German armed forces, including measures facilitating the transit of German troops through Poland, which is particularly important in the context of pressure from the United States for Europe to take more responsibility for its own security.
Historical Context and Returns
Separately from the defence agreement, Germany returned to Poland a number of historical artefacts looted during World War Two, including a 14th-century manuscript containing a medieval Polish hymn and a ring that once belonged to 16th-century Polish King Sigismund I. Polish Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz emphasized that "while historical policy is very important for us, our duty is the policy of the future, of development and of security".
The agreement comes as Poland has bolstered its defence spending to the highest relative level in NATO and now has the alliance's third-largest army—and its largest in Europe—while by 2030 Poland will have more tanks than Germany, the UK, Italy and France combined.
What This Means for Foreign Residents
Increased military cooperation and transit arrangements mean you may occasionally see more military convoys or exercises, particularly if you live near major transport corridors in western Poland. The broader geopolitical context—Poland's growing role as a frontline NATO state—underscores the country's strategic importance and commitment to collective European security. For most residents, daily life will be unaffected, though the strengthened defence posture reflects Poland's priorities in an uncertain security environment.
