Ten European nations form anti-ballistic missile coalition in Paris, Poland notably absent from founding group

A new coalition takes shape in Paris

On Monday, 13 July 2026, ten European nations formally established the Anti-Ballistic Missile Coalition during a summit in Paris. The founding members are Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom. The announcement was made via a joint statement issued by the Élysée Palace. The coalition's stated purpose is a purely defensive one: to pool industrial bases, scientific research, and operational experience to build a common anti-ballistic shield for the continent. The signatories emphasised that the initiative is designed to complement, not replace, existing national and joint European missile defence systems.

We are developing these capabilities not against any nation, but in defence of our own.

The leaders pointed to the increasing threat from ballistic missiles as the primary driver for the new group. They committed to establishing common operational requirements, forming joint technical working groups, defining clear governance mechanisms, and creating a roadmap to achieve the coalition's first operational capabilities, all in accordance with their respective constitutional frameworks and international obligations.

The Freyja system and Ukraine's role

A core project of the coalition is the development of a joint defensive system named Freyja. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine is responsible for finalising the anti-ballistic interceptor missile for the system. He described the project as a European interest and expressed hope that Freyja would begin operating within the next twelve months.

Europe needs more anti-ballistic defence. Together we can build such a system. Ukraine is ready to provide its part: an anti-ballistic missile. We are currently finalising it. The political confirmation that Freyja is our common project, lying in the interest of the whole of Europe, is important.

The interceptor missile, designated FP-7.x and developed under Ukrainian direction by the firm Fire Point, is presented as a lower-cost alternative to the American Patriot system. It reportedly achieves a speed of 1,500 to 2,000 metres per second and an altitude of 25 kilometres. The unit cost for one FP-7.x missile is estimated at 700,000 dollars, compared to 3.8 million dollars for a single Patriot PAC-3 interceptor. The first units are expected to be delivered to the Ukrainian army in 2027. French President Emmanuel Macron, who hosted the summit, called the initiative an important step toward a joint European anti-missile shield.

Poland's conspicuous absence

While the ten founding members signed the declaration, Poland was not among them, a detail noted by several media reports. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk was present in Paris to represent Poland at the broader summit of the "coalition of the willing," which included 25 heads of state and government and focused on supporting Ukraine's air defence and reinforcing pressure on Russia. The Polish prime minister's office stated that the talks would cover actions following a potential ceasefire or peace agreement and the provision of security guarantees for Ukraine. Despite this high-level participation, Poland did not join the specific anti-ballistic missile declaration.

Industry backing and next steps

The coalition brings together significant European defence industrial capacity. Five of the founding states (the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain) are host nations and major shareholders of MBDA, Europe's largest missile manufacturer, which produces systems like the Aster and CAMM missiles. The other members, including Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and the Netherlands, have close technological cooperation on radar, command, and early-warning systems. The signatories declared their intent to consolidate these resources, support joint research and development under a designated flagship project, and explore funding opportunities while promoting data and information sharing. The coalition remains open to additional countries wishing to join.