France and Poland on Friday will sign a new strategic cooperation treaty, with Polish leader Donald Tusk insisting that a mutual security pledge will be at the heart of the agreement.
Tusk is scheduled to meet French President Emmanuel Macron in the eastern French city of Nancy to sign the accord, a key move as European allies seek to strengthen their defence ties following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“For me, absolutely the most important issue was the mutual security guarantees” in the accord, Tusk told reporters as he prepared to travel to France.
He called the mutual support provision “the very essence of this treaty”.
Asked whether Poland could receive protection under France’s nuclear weapons deterrent, Tusk said the treaty “also opens up the possibility of cooperation in that area”.
“In the case of an attack against Poland or France, the two countries commit to providing mutual assistance, including military assistance,” he added.
The agreement reflects a growing alliance between two of the European Union’s key powers and allies of Ukraine as it fights off Russia’s invasion.
“This treaty will lift the Franco-Polish partnership to a high level of ambition in strategic areas for our two countries and for Europe, particularly defence and energy,” said the French presidency.
The treaty is a “game-changer” and “historic”, Tusk said on Wednesday.
