Keir Starmer launches new defence pact with Poland to protect Europe from Russia threat
Keir Starmer has launched a new defence pact with Poland to protect Europe from the threat of Russia.
Earlier today, he made his first trip to Ukraine since becoming PM, meeting President Zelensky in Kyiv while a Russian drone was shot down nearby and sirens wailed.
There he pledged a 100-year partnership and has not ruled out British troops being involved in a peace-keeping force when the current fighting ends.
Now onto Ukraine’s western neighbour, Poland, and an announcement of a new defence and security agreement.
Sir Keir Starmer will meet with the Polish PM Donald Tusk in Warsaw tomorrow.
Tusk was President of the European Council during the Brexit negotiations and became Polish PM in 2023.
The pair previously met at the European Political Community meetings last summer at Blenheim Palace, and in November in Budapest, two days after the re-election of Donald Trump to the White House.
Ahead of the meeting Starmer said: “With ever-increasing threats to Europe’s security, now is the time to take our partnership to the next level, so we can ensure we’re tackling the big issues that rebound on the British people at home – from Putin’s aggression to the vile people smuggling gangs trading in human misery.
“It is only through closer collaboration with our most important partners such as Poland that we’ll protect the UK’s national security – the key foundation on which I’ll deliver my Plan for Change.”
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The pair will start talks on a new UK-Poland Treaty and there will be increased military co-operation, to counter Russian aggression and tackle disinformation and hybrid threats.
Britain will also work with Poland on people-smuggling; the country is on the frontline of Europe’s fight to tackle organised immigration crime – and has seen a huge increase in migrant crossings from the Belarusian border, facilitated by gangs aided by Belarus and Russia.
Energy security will also be a focus, and the government is keen to trumpet investment it’s secured with Poland, including £600million from Polish company InPost into Britain.
The PM came in for a lot of criticism last year for his frequent foreign trips. And it’s only been a month since he was in Norway and Estonia.
His team insist he’s travelling for Britain; for our security and for our economy.
And in terms of security and defence, European leaders are anxious and keen to work together, especially to shore up Ukraine’s position ahead of likely negotiations starting soon.
Next Monday, Donald Trump will be inaugurated as US President for a second term.
He wants an end to the war in Ukraine. And he’s had enough of Europe relying on America’s defence spending, while many European countries don’t even spend two per cent.