UK and Poland Forge New Security Pact Amid Heightened Threats in Europe
Prime Minister Keir Starmer underscores the importance of NATO and Ukraine in fostering lasting peace.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has reiterated the enduring alliance between the United Kingdom and Poland by unveiling a new security and defence treaty during his state visit to Poland.
The agreement focuses on mutual concerns, such as Russian aggression in Ukraine, combating people smuggling rings, and addressing hybrid threats, including disinformation campaigns.
Throughout his visit, Starmer emphasized the "deep bonds of family, of history, and of friendship" between the UK and Poland, acknowledging the vital role Polish pilots played during the Battle of Britain and the country's government-in-exile's location in London during World War II. The Prime Minister also drew personal connections, mentioning his wife Victoria's Polish heritage and their shared affinity for Arsenal FC.
At a press conference in Warsaw alongside Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Starmer highlighted the "unbreakable commitment" the UK holds towards NATO and Ukraine, asserting that Ukraine's security is essential for European stability.
He remarked, "The strength to secure that peace, on Ukraine's terms.
And the strength to maintain it." Starmer also expressed gratitude for Poland’s unwavering support for Ukraine, stressing that collective strength will pave the path to a just and enduring peace.
Moreover, Starmer condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine as "the issue of our time," urging for an equivalent collective response to match the threat level.
He announced the initiation of negotiations for the UK-Poland security and defence treaty, which aims to address all present and future threats.
In addition to diplomatic discussions, Starmer and his wife visited Auschwitz-Birkenau, the site of one of the most notorious Nazi concentration camps.
He described the visit as "utterly harrowing" and expressed his resolve to educate future generations about the Holocaust's atrocities, maintaining a promise that such horrors must "never again" occur.
In an article for the Jewish Chronicle, Starmer articulated his profound emotional response to the visit, remarking on the meticulous records maintained by the Nazis amid the appalling loss of life.
He reflected on the chilling reality across the expanse of Birkenau and reiterated the responsibility of remembrance as a means of learning from history's darkest chapters.
The agreement focuses on mutual concerns, such as Russian aggression in Ukraine, combating people smuggling rings, and addressing hybrid threats, including disinformation campaigns.
Throughout his visit, Starmer emphasized the "deep bonds of family, of history, and of friendship" between the UK and Poland, acknowledging the vital role Polish pilots played during the Battle of Britain and the country's government-in-exile's location in London during World War II. The Prime Minister also drew personal connections, mentioning his wife Victoria's Polish heritage and their shared affinity for Arsenal FC.
At a press conference in Warsaw alongside Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Starmer highlighted the "unbreakable commitment" the UK holds towards NATO and Ukraine, asserting that Ukraine's security is essential for European stability.
He remarked, "The strength to secure that peace, on Ukraine's terms.
And the strength to maintain it." Starmer also expressed gratitude for Poland’s unwavering support for Ukraine, stressing that collective strength will pave the path to a just and enduring peace.
Moreover, Starmer condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine as "the issue of our time," urging for an equivalent collective response to match the threat level.
He announced the initiation of negotiations for the UK-Poland security and defence treaty, which aims to address all present and future threats.
In addition to diplomatic discussions, Starmer and his wife visited Auschwitz-Birkenau, the site of one of the most notorious Nazi concentration camps.
He described the visit as "utterly harrowing" and expressed his resolve to educate future generations about the Holocaust's atrocities, maintaining a promise that such horrors must "never again" occur.
In an article for the Jewish Chronicle, Starmer articulated his profound emotional response to the visit, remarking on the meticulous records maintained by the Nazis amid the appalling loss of life.
He reflected on the chilling reality across the expanse of Birkenau and reiterated the responsibility of remembrance as a means of learning from history's darkest chapters.
