Germany and Poland sign new defence pact on 35th anniversary of neighbourhood treaty, deepening military cooperation and infrastructure ties

A new defence agreement

On the 35th anniversary of the German–Polish Neighbourhood Treaty, the two countries' defence ministers Boris Pistorius and Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz signed a revamped military cooperation agreement in Warsaw. The pact builds on a 2011 framework and covers joint exercises, arms industry collaboration, and closer coordination in the Baltic, space, cyber, and critical infrastructure domains. Pistorius said the agreement opens "a further chapter in the history of our close friendship" and that the neighbours are taking joint responsibility for European security.

“Deutschland und Polen übernehmen gemeinsam Verantwortung für die Sicherheit in Europa.”

Infrastructure as strategic asset

Simultaneously, foreign ministers Johann Wadephul and Radosław Sikorski addressed a 700-strong audience at the German–Polish Forum in Berlin, underlining the need to upgrade cross-border rail links. Wadephul declared that a "genuine high-speed line" between Warsaw and Berlin was essential and noted its dual use.

“Dieselben Gleise, auf denen wir uns besuchen fahren, tragen im Ernstfall auch Panzer.”

He argued that investment in German–Polish railways is investment in both friendship and defence, because the two countries serve as NATO's logistical hubs.

Historical obligations and border discontent

Sikorski struck a more sombre note on the legacy of World War II, pointing to the moral and material duties owed to the last survivors of German crimes.

“Die letzten Zeitzeugen des Zweiten Weltkriegs sterben, darunter Menschen, die besonders stark unter den deutschen Verbrechen gelitten haben: KZ-Häftlinge und Zwangsarbeiter. Wir haben ihnen gegenüber besondere Verpflichtungen, sowohl in moralischer als auch in materieller Hinsicht.”

He also expressed disappointment over infrastructure gaps, noting that only one bridge had been built across the 500‑million‑euro‑a‑day trade border in three decades, and criticised continued German border checks that he called unnecessary hurdles.

Political pushback in Warsaw

The pact falls short of mutual security guarantees beyond NATO and EU frameworks, a feature that Warsaw omitted to avoid a veto from right‑wing President Karol Nawrocki. Defence Minister Kosiniak‑Kamysz had to defend the deal in parliament against Germany‑sceptic conservatives, stressing that while Poland's security orientation looks towards the US, Scandinavia, and Turkey, Germany is equally important.

“Jeder, der versucht, die guten deutsch-polnischen Beziehungen zu zerstören, dient Russland; jeder, der heute die Ukraine angreift, hilft Russland.”

What comes next

The agreement sets in motion several concrete steps. Starting in July, German soldiers will be deployed to the Polish border with Russia's Kaliningrad exclave. In November, exercise Grand Eagle will move 1,200 German troops through Poland to Lithuania. The forum also saw honours for Janusz Reiter, the first post‑communist Polish ambassador to Berlin, recognised for his work on reconciliation.