France and Poland have stepped up efforts to deepen their strategic partnership, with Emmanuel Macron and Donald Tusk using a bilateral summit in Poland to inject fresh momentum into defence, industrial, and political cooperation.
Meeting in the northern Polish port city of Gdansk on Monday, Macron and Tusk set out plans to expand collaboration in areas69 ranging from nuclear deterrence to military satellites, signalling a growing alignment at a time of heightened security concerns across Europe.
The French president said work over the coming months would pave the way for “concrete progress” on nuclear deterrence – a sensitive but increasingly prominent topic in European defence debates.
Areas under consideration include intelligence sharing, joint military exercises and the possible deployment of French aircraft capable of carrying nuclear weapons on Polish territory.
Warsaw could also support France’s deterrence effforts through capabilities including ground-based air defence, long-range strike systems, early warning and space assets.
Tusk struck an upbeat tone, saying cooperation between the two countries “knows no bounds”, whether in nuclear matters or broader military coordination.
Posting on X, Tusk underlined the strength of Franco-Polish relations, writing: "Thank you for the lasting friendship and mutual trust."
Alongside the strategic discussions, a major industrial agreement was signed by Airbus, Thales and Poland’s Radmor to develop a geostationary military communications satellite for the Polish armed forces.
The Gdansk meeting also marked the first concrete follow-up to a friendship and enhanced cooperation treaty signed in Nancy in May 2025, which elevated Poland to the rank of one of France’s closest allies, alongside Germany.
Before the talks, Macron paid a symbolic visit to a cemetery for French soldiers in Poland, echoing gestures made by Charles de Gaulle and Francois Mitterrand in previous decades.
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Defence ambitions
Poland has in recent years embarked on an ambitious military modernisation drive, with defence spending expected to exceed 4.8 percent of GDP in 2026 – one of the highest levels in NATO.
Much of that investment has gone towards US-made equipment, including F-35 fighter jets, Apache helicopters, Patriot missile systems and Abrams tanks.
Despite renewed pro-European momentum under Tusk, Poland remains strongly attached to its security relationship with Washington.
This balancing act is reflected in domestic political tensions, with President Karol Nawrocki opposing participation in the EU’s SAFE defence financing programme, arguing it could undermine national independence.
Macron and Tusk also welcomed political change in Hungary following the electoral defeat of Viktor Orban, expressing hope that it would reinforce pro-European cohesion within the bloc.
Against this backdrop, the French president said he was “reasonably optimistic” about unlocking a €90 billion European loan package for Ukraine, suggesting that shifting political dynamics in Europe could ease decision-making.
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Industry, culture and shared ties
Economic and industrial cooperation featured prominently in the discussions, that were scheduled to mark Franco-Polish Friendship Day.
Macron used the visit to promote EDF as a candidate in Poland’s tender for a second nuclear power plant, highlighting the group’s ability to manage the entire nuclear cycle.
Tusk, in turn, pledged that France would be regarded as “one of our most important partners” in major future projects, pointing to a broadening relationship that extends beyond defence.
The two countries are also looking to strengthen cultural links, with plans for a joint cultural season in 2027 reflecting their longstanding historical and artistic connections.
This cultural dimension was highlighted during the inaugural presentation of the Bronislaw Geremek Prize, awarded for contributions to Franco-Polish relations.
The first recipient was Andrzej Seweryn, a prominent actor and director in theatre and cinema in both countries and a former opponent of Poland’s communist regime.
(With newswires)
