France and Poland Sign Security Pact

France and Poland signed a landmark treaty on Friday to bolster cooperation across defence, energy, and technological sectors, as European allies seek to strengthen ties in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and uncertainty surrounding future U.S. support for NATO.

The agreement, signed in the eastern French city of Nancy by French President Emmanuel Macron and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, includes a mutual assistance clause that commits both NATO members to support each other in the event of an armed attack.

"In these difficult times, France and Poland will be able to count on each other in every situation," Tusk said during the signing ceremony. Macron emphasized that the defence clause "reinforces what already exists today" through NATO and the European Union, rather than replacing those frameworks.

Strengthening Europe’s Defence Architecture

The treaty mirrors similar bilateral agreements France has signed with Germany, Italy, and Spain. However, it marks the first such pact with a Central European nation, underlining Poland’s growing strategic importance on the continent’s eastern flank. Poland currently spends 4.12% of its GDP on defence—more than any other NATO member.

While the text of the treaty does not explicitly extend France’s nuclear deterrent to Poland, Tusk indicated that future cooperation on nuclear security could be on the horizon. Macron, for his part, reiterated his openness—first expressed in March—to extending France’s nuclear capabilities to other European nations amid rising doubts over Washington’s long-term security commitments.

The agreement also includes measures to enhance cooperation on nuclear energy, an area where France seeks to export its technological expertise.

Ukraine and the “Coalition of the Willing”

The treaty was signed one day before a planned summit in Ukraine, bringing together the so-called “coalition of the willing”—a group of countries, including France and the United Kingdom, aiming to increase military and political support for Kiev. While Macron confirmed France’s participation in the meeting, he did not specify whether he would attend in person.

Speaking in Nancy, Macron also addressed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s Victory Day comments, in which Putin claimed widespread domestic support for the war in Ukraine. Macron dismissed the remarks, stating, “President Putin is on the side of war, not the side of peace.”

The new Franco-Polish pact reflects a broader shift in European defence strategy, as nations within the EU move to reinforce mutual commitments and reduce dependence on the United States in the face of mounting geopolitical uncertainty.