France and Poland Sign Defense Pact to Strengthen European Security

On May 9, 2025, French President Emmanuel Macron and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk signed a comprehensive strategic cooperation treaty in Nancy, France. The agreement aims to deepen bilateral relations in defense, energy, and industrial resilience and reflects a joint commitment to boosting European strategic autonomy.

The treaty includes a mutual defense clause, reaffirming both countries’ dedication to collective security under NATO and the European Union. While the document does not explicitly offer French nuclear protection to Poland, it opens the door for further defense coordination in light of regional threats, particularly from Russia.

President Macron stressed that the agreement is not a replacement for NATO but a means to strengthen Europe’s role in its own defense. He described the treaty as “irreversible solidarity based on trust forged through crises,” referencing the war in Ukraine and growing uncertainty about U.S. strategic commitments to Europe.

Prime Minister Tusk hailed the agreement as historic, emphasizing Poland’s intention to build Europe’s most capable defense force, in alignment with its NATO obligations. He highlighted the urgency of joint European armament programs and military production in response to the evolving security landscape.

The signing took place in Nancy, a city with symbolic historical ties to Poland: it was once ruled by exiled Polish King Stanisław Leszczyński in the 18th century. This backdrop underlined the long-standing connection between the two nations.

The France–Poland treaty marks the first of its kind between Paris and a Central European country and signals a growing realignment in European defense cooperation amid geopolitical uncertainty.