France and Poland signed a treaty on Friday to increase cooperation on defence, nuclear energy, and other areas, signaling growing alliances among European nations amid concerns about the U.S. commitment to Europe’s security. The signing occurred ahead of a Ukraine summit where leaders of the “coalition of the willing,” led by France and Britain, aim to bolster support for Ukraine amid a potentially more skeptical Trump administration.
The treaty includes a mutual assistance clause, deepening the commitment between the two NATO member states to support each other in case of an attack, and a pledge to strengthen military and technological links. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk expressed confidence that France and Poland would be able to count on each other in every situation.
Tusk indicated the pact could pave the way for cooperation on a potential extension of the French nuclear umbrella to cover Poland, though the treaty itself did not specifically mention this. President Emmanuel Macron had previously expressed openness to extending French nuclear capabilities to other European nations, partly due to growing doubts over U.S. President Donald Trump’s commitment to European security.
The new pact includes provisions for deeper integration on nuclear energy, with France seeking to export its nuclear expertise. The treaty highlights Poland’s increasingly pivotal role in Europe, given its strategic position on the continent’s eastern flank and its high defense spending, which is at 4.12% of its economic output, the highest percentage in NATO. Tusk’s government is aiming to diversify its security partnerships beyond Washington.
This treaty marks the first such agreement France has signed with a central European country, following similar pacts with Italy, Spain, and Germany. The signing took place in Nancy, France, a city with historical ties to Poland.
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