Britain and Poland have formalised a new security agreement aimed at deterring Russian aggression and strengthening defences along Europe’s eastern border, according to the UK government.
The Warsaw Defence Plan was announced as Defence Secretary Wes Streeting met with his Polish counterpart Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz in Warsaw. The accord represents the first phase of defence cooperation under the recently agreed UK-Poland Security and Defence Partnership Treaty.
Under the agreement, both nations will coordinate efforts across multiple domains including sea, land, air, cyber capabilities and industrial cooperation. The government said the partnership will enhance security and deterrence across Europe’s Eastern Flank whilst bolstering both countries’ defence manufacturing sectors.
Key areas of cooperation
The plan outlines several specific areas where British and Polish forces will work more closely together. Both countries will collaborate on manufacturing and developing the next generation of air defence missiles, building on Poland’s existing procurement of its Narew air defence system from MBDA UK.
Co-development of drone and counter-drone technologies represents another priority, particularly as Russia has increased drone incursions across the UK and Europe. These technologies will help protect civilians and critical national infrastructure from hostile threats.
Cyber security and resilience will see enhanced cooperation, with both nations sharing expertise to defend military and civilian sites. The agreement also covers sharing lessons from frigate development programmes, as the British Type 31 and Polish Miecznik vessels are built from a common design.
Baltic Sea and industrial partnerships
Defensive maritime activity in the Baltic Sea will increase through joint exercises and regional coordination. According to the government, this will help British and Polish forces protect vital lines of communication in the strategically important waters.
On the industrial front, UK defence firm BAE Systems and Poland’s PGZ will expand production capacity for large-calibre ammunition. The defence industries of both nations will also promote education, training and workforce mobility to build shared expertise across borders.
The UK and Poland plan to continue participating in large-scale exercises including Steadfast Defender, Polish Dragon and Joint Warrior, ensuring forces remain prepared for modern warfare challenges such as counter-drone operations, electronic warfare and missile defence.
A major Coalition of the Willing exercise is scheduled for Poland next month, with thousands of personnel taking part. The exercise will focus on ensuring the Multinational Force Ukraine is prepared to support military training and post-war reconstruction efforts that Ukraine will require.
What this means for Poles in the UK
The strengthened defence partnership between Britain and Poland reinforces the close ties between both countries and may create new opportunities for Polish nationals living in the UK. The agreement’s emphasis on defence industry cooperation and workforce mobility could open specialist jobs for engineers, technicians and military experts with Polish language skills and connections to both countries.
Poles working in the UK’s defence sector or considering such careers may find increased demand for their expertise, particularly in areas such as cyber security, drone technology and ammunition manufacturing. BAE Systems and other British defence contractors expanding collaboration with Polish partners may actively seek bilingual professionals who can facilitate cross-border projects.
The agreement also underscores the UK’s commitment to European security and its NATO obligations, which directly affects the Polish community in Britain. Enhanced deterrence measures and closer military cooperation with Poland signal continued British engagement in defending the region where many UK Poles maintain family and property ties.
For those interested in supporting Ukraine, the planned Coalition of the Willing exercise demonstrates both countries’ ongoing commitment to Ukrainian defence and reconstruction, areas where the Polish diaspora in the UK has been particularly active since Russia’s full-scale invasion began.