France and Poland Strengthen Strategic Partnership

“The signing of the Nancy Treaty has elevated Poland to the status of one of our strategic partners alongside Great Britain, Germany, and Italy,” stated Lieutenant Colonel Paul. Signed on May 9, 2025, this treaty of friendship and enhanced cooperation now forms the political foundation of a rapidly expanding bilateral relationship.

Poland now plays a central role in the European security architecture. “It is a key player in Central and Eastern Europe, with whom we share many strategic convergences,” emphasized Paul. In a context marked by the ongoing Russian threat and changes in American engagement in Europe, Paris and Warsaw aim to enhance their coordination. Several significant agreements were reached on April 20 at the Gdansk Summit, including a partnership in the field of military communication satellites and the adoption of a bilateral defense cooperation plan for the period 2026-2028.

Four Pillars to Structure Cooperation

French-Polish cooperation now rests on four key pillars. The first involves strategic dialogue and joint mobilization in favor of European defense. Numerous high-level meetings prior to the Gdansk Summit, including the visit of the Chief of Staff of the Polish Armed Forces to France, have tackled major threats facing the continent, from hybrid threats to nuclear proliferation.

Building on the President’s speech at l’Ile Longue, France and Poland will soon launch a bilateral dialogue on advanced deterrence. “The goal is to translate concretely, in the coming weeks, the President’s speech from l’Ile Longue,” specified Lieutenant Colonel Paul.

Increasing Operational Convergence

The second pillar focuses on aligning international commitments. Both countries continue to support Ukraine, particularly in planning for the multinational force under the auspices of the Coalition of Volunteers. They are also cooperating in other sensitive areas, including Lebanon and the Gulf region.

The operational dimension constitutes the third pillar of this relationship. “The French and Polish armed forces are both engaged in common external theaters and are increasing joint exercises to enhance their interoperability,” noted the officer. Fifty Polish soldiers are currently participating in Exercise Orion, while French troops will be involved in Exercise Dragon in Poland in 2027. Cooperation also extends to NATO and EU missions, especially in support of Ukraine.

In the air domain, French solidarity was recently demonstrated with the deployment of three Rafale jets to Poland in September following a Russian drone incursion into Polish airspace.

Growing Industrial Cooperation

The fourth pillar focuses on capacity and industrial cooperation. Two Airbus reconnaissance satellites will be delivered to Poland next year. At the same time, a letter of intent has been signed on military communication satellites, and a memorandum of understanding between industrial partners has formalized the integration of the Polish company Radmor into the Thales Alenia Space-Airbus Defence and Space consortium.

Discussions are also advancing in other sectors, including ammunition, deep strike capability, transport, air-to-air refueling, and emerging technologies such as drones and anti-drone measures.

Momentum Accelerating

Approaching the first anniversary of the Nancy Treaty, Paris and Warsaw now aim to further accelerate their cooperation. “Our current goal is to build on these achievements and deepen cooperation,” affirmed Lieutenant Colonel Paul.