Poland, UK agree new defence cooperation agreement

Poland and the UK have signed a new multi-domain defence cooperation agreement to deter further Russian aggression in eastern Europe. 

Dubbed the ‘Warsaw Defence Plan’, the agreement follows the signing of the UK-Poland Security and Defence Partnership Treaty in May 2026, also known as the Northolt Treaty. 

“Under the agreement, the two nations will work together across sea, land, air, cyber, and [with] industry to strengthen security and deterrence across Europe’s eastern flank”, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) said on 27 October. 

What does the Warsaw Defence Plan involve? 

There are five primary measures within the agreement.  

The first covers a commitment to collaborate on the development and manufacture of a new generation of air defence missiles. 

The second measure involves the two countries working closely together on the “co-development of drone and counter-drone technologies,” according to the UK MoD. Both nations will also deepen their cooperation on cyber security and resilience as part of the third measure. 

Fourthly, Poland and the UK will share lessons from their experience developing key naval platforms, such as Poland’s Miecznik frigates and the UK’s Type 31 Frigates, the MoD said, which both share a common design. 

Finally, the two countries will increase “defensive maritime activity in the Baltic Sea” with exercises to practice the defence of critical undersea infrastructure, such as communications and data infrastructure. 

What does this mean for industry? 

The UK MoD says that the agreement will help strengthen collaboration between Poland and the UK’s industry, particularly when it comes to “education, training and workforce mobility to build shared expertise”.  

However, currently it remains unclear what form this collaboration will take, and through what mechanisms it will be supported. 

The two countries hope that the agreement can build on recent cross-border contracts, such as Poland’s acquisition of the Narew air defence system from MBDA UK and plans for BAE Systems and Poland’s PGZ to jointly expand large-calibre ammunition production.