UK and Poland Sign New Defence and Security Treaty Amid Russian Threat
Sir Keir Starmer has stated that the United Kingdom and Poland face "no greater challenge" than Russian aggression, coinciding with the signing of a new defence and security treaty between the two nations.
The prime minister characterized the agreement as delivering a "generational uplift" in the bilateral relationship with Poland.
According to Downing Street, the treaty aims to support defence jobs, enhance responses to cyber attacks, improve border security, and dismantle organised crime groups.
However, Ed Arnold, defence adviser at The D Group and senior associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) think tank, expressed skepticism regarding the treaty's impact and questioned how it differs from previous agreements between the UK and Poland.
Formalising the Treaty and Commemorative Visit
Sir Keir Starmer met with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk at RAF Northolt in west London on Wednesday to formalise the treaty. Following the signing, they visited the nearby Battle of Britain Bunker, where they laid a commemorative wreath.
"There's no greater challenge for either of our countries than the challenge of Russian aggression, and we see that not just in Ukraine itself, but beyond Ukraine, impacting on our own countries.
So that's the context in which we sign what is actually a generational uplift in the relationship on security and defence between our two countries."
Shared Values and Treaty Foundations
Speaking through an interpreter, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk emphasized that the UK and Poland's "shared values," including the rule of law and human rights, form the "foundation of the treaty."
"Some people might say these values are now old-fashioned and obsolete, but they are important for us and for our nations."
The treaty text states its purpose is to "strengthen close co-operation in security and defence and preparing for the challenges facing" both the UK and Poland "and Europe as a whole."
It identifies Russia as "the most significant long-term threat" to Euro-Atlantic security and underscores the "need to counter its malign actions."
Additionally, the treaty reaffirms the UK and Poland's "ironclad commitment" to NATO and addresses migrant smuggling as a "shared challenge requiring joint solutions."
Joint Action Plan on Irregular Migration
The UK government indicated that the two countries will discuss measures through a "new joint action plan on irregular migration."
This plan includes targeting the use of social media by smuggling gangs, maximising intelligence sharing, and employing new technologies to monitor borders effectively.
Expert Analysis and Criticism
When asked about the effectiveness of such treaties, Ed Arnold told the BBC:
"Quite frankly, specifically this one, not really."
He referenced agreements signed between the UK and Poland from 2018 to 2023, stating:
"So I'm a bit confused why we've decided to add an additional treaty to that relationship already."
Arnold further noted that the treaty's main new elements are less about defence and security and more focused on migration and related security issues.
"There's a bit of a risk whereby if you start to lump together lots of different policy areas, if you then have a bit of a disagreement on one policy area – for example, migration – then it can hurt the other parts of it i.e. defence and security.
So I see a bit of a risk within the document itself of broadening the relationship with Poland, but there's nothing in there that is this sort of generational change or however the PM described it."
Arnold also questioned the UK's capacity to fulfil its commitments under treaty-based agreements with other countries.
