Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Monday that their governments plan to sign a new bilateral defence agreement next

year, marking a step toward deeper cooperation on security, infrastructure and border protection amid Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine.

Speaking at a joint press conference in Berlin, Tusk stressed that both countries were committed to reinforcing Europe’s eastern flank and reducing the continent’s dependence on Russian energy. “Poland and Germany speak with the same voice about the need to make Europe independent from Russian energy,” he said.

Merz confirmed that work on the agreement was already under way. “We have instructed our ministers to prepare an agreement on defence collaboration,” he told reporters. “We want to finalise this in the bilateral anniversary year of 2026,” he added, referring to the upcoming 35th anniversary of the Polish-German partnership treaty.

The announcement came as ministers from both governments gathered in Berlin for intergovernmental consultations covering a wide range of bilateral and EU issues. According to Poland’s state news agency PAP, the discussions focused on defence, cross-border infrastructure, migration and continued support for Ukraine. The restitution of artwork looted from Poland by Nazi Germany during World War II was also on the agenda.

Tusk and Merz signalled a “new opening” in Polish-German relations during a meeting in Warsaw in May, pledging at the time to intensify cooperation on defence and border security. Monday’s declaration sets the stage for what both leaders describe as a renewed strategic partnership. Foto by gov.pl