Asger Risom
Tusk and Macron Sign Defense Treaty Amid Rising Fears of Russian Aggression
Poland has taken a major step toward joining France’s nuclear umbrella by signing a new defense and security treaty with Paris. The agreement, formalized Friday by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and French President Emmanuel Macron in the city of Nancy, reflects growing European efforts to bolster mutual defense amid uncertainty over long-term U.S. military support.
Treaty Includes Mutual Defense and Industrial Cooperation
As reported by Digi24, the pact includes a clause of reciprocal military assistance in the event of armed conflict, as well as expanded collaboration in the defense industry. Tusk described the treaty as “innovative” in terms of security architecture, adding that it lays the foundation for future technical and financial arrangements that could eventually integrate Poland into France’s nuclear deterrence framework.
The move follows French proposals to extend the protection of its nuclear arsenal — the only one in the EU — to allies willing to coordinate strategically with Paris. Macron has previously advocated for a more autonomous European defense posture, especially as pressure mounts from U.S. President Donald Trump for European NATO members to take on more of their own defense burden.
Growing Momentum for European Defense Autonomy
Speaking in Warsaw, Tusk emphasized that Poland is engaged in “serious discussions” with France on nuclear cooperation and warned that Europe must prepare for the possibility of war with Russia in the coming years. With the U.S. potentially scaling back support for Ukraine and broader transatlantic defense commitments, Poland and France are positioning themselves at the core of an emerging European security doctrine.
While the treaty does not immediately place Poland under France’s nuclear protection, it signals Warsaw’s intention to explore that option as part of a broader defense realignment. Future technical and financial negotiations are expected to clarify how such an arrangement might function in practice.
This development marks one of the most significant signs yet that European countries are rethinking their long-term strategic dependencies — and it could reshape the continent’s defense posture for years to come.