Britain and Poland Sign Plan to Strengthen Baltic Defences
Britain and Poland have signed a three-year defence plan to protect Baltic shipping, strengthen air defences and prepare forces for a potential mission supporting Ukraine.
British Defence Secretary Wes Streeting and Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz signed the agreement in Warsaw on October 27, 2026.
The Warsaw Defence Plan turns the countries’ wider security partnership into a programme of military exercises and weapons development. Both governments say closer cooperation will help counter threats from Russia and strengthen NATO’s eastern flank.
Protecting Baltic Shipping Routes
The agreement calls for increased defensive naval activity in the Baltic Sea, supported by joint exercises and closer regional coordination.
The aim is to protect shipping routes used for civilian trade and military supplies. These connections link Poland with its Nordic and Baltic neighbours and help allies move reinforcements across northern Europe.
The countries will also share experience from their frigate programmes. Britain’s Type 31 and Poland’s Miecznikwarships use a common design, creating opportunities for closer cooperation as both fleets develop.
Air Defence and Ammunition Production
Joint development of air defence missiles and drone technology forms another part of the plan. Protection against hostile drones will cover civilians and critical infrastructure, while closer cybersecurity cooperation will address threats to military and civilian sites.
Kosiniak-Kamysz highlighted existing cooperation on Poland’s Narew and Pilica air defence programmes. He also identified an independent production line for 155mm ammunition as a shared industrial priority.
British manufacturer BAE Systems and the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ) are to expand production capacity for large-calibre ammunition. The agreement also provides for closer coordination of defence purchases.
November Exercise to Prepare Ukraine Support
Thousands of personnel are expected to take part in an exercise in Poland in November 2026, organised through the Coalition of the Willing, the group coordinating future security support for Ukraine.
According to the British Ministry of Defence, the exercise will prepare Multinational Force Ukraine to support military training and reconstruction after the war.
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