Poland, Germany Combine Forces in Defense Agreement against Russia

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President Trump’s call for a drawdown in American troops stationed in Europe has made several European countries nervous, especially Poland. On the 35th anniversary of the Polish–German ⁠Treaty of Good Neighborly Relations and Friendly Cooperation, the two countries apparently decided they should recommit themselves to each other and signed a bilateral defense agreement.

Reason for the Defense Agreement

Leaders from the Polish and German governments released a joint statement on Wednesday, which detailed the reasoning for the defense agreement, according to WNG.

The statement noted that, “Russia’s full-scale aggression on Ukraine has fundamentally altered our geopolitical setting,” and that, “as NATO allies and partners in the EU, we are particularly responsible for our region and continent. The Russian aggression against Ukraine has put us in a new political reality.”

The statement also noted Russia’s “hybrid and disinformation activities,” in which it said Russia was engaging so that it could, “sow social division, undermine public order, and erode trust in the state and its institutions. We will not be intimidated. We will effectively boost our resilience and educate our societies.”

The joint statement further noted an “overarching goal” to “protect European values, including the rule of law and transparent electoral processes, and to secure a just and lasting peace in Ukraine that would strengthen Europe’s security.”

Poland Signed Similar Agreements with Other Countries

Poland has signed similar agreements with France and Britain, and will be signing one with Italy in the near future, according to Reuters.

“The defense agreement...opens up new areas of cooperation. In the field of cybersecurity, joint responsibility, joint command in the Baltic, new technologies,” Poland’s Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamys said during a press conference with Germany, Boris Pistorius picked up by Reuters.

“It opens up new opportunities regarding military mobility as well as the development of infrastructure for this mobility between our states,” he added.

The agreement includes protection for the Baltic Sea region

“Germany is largely responsible for the defense of the Baltic states, and without cooperation with Poland, that will not happen,” Justyna Gotkowska, deputy director of the Warsaw-based think tank Center for Eastern Studies, told Euro News.

The Trump Administration has said that it intends to withdraw troops in Europe to the 2021 levels, Stars and Stripes reported last month. He has expressed frustration with Europe for not assisting with opening the Strait of Hormuz, according to Time, and wants to shift resources toward attempting to resolve the conflict with Iran.

Photo Credit: ©Getty Images / WOJTEK RADWANSKI / Contributor

Elizabeth Delaney has been a freelance content writer for over 20 years and has enjoyed having her prose published in both the non-fiction and fiction markets. She has written various types of content, including Christian articles, healthy lifestyle, blog posts, business topics, news articles, product descriptions, and some fiction. She is also a singer-songwriter-musician. When she is not busy with writing or music, she enjoys spending time with friends or family and doing fun social activities such as hiking, swing dancing, concerts, and other activities.