French President Emmanuel Macron, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk signed on Friday May 9 in Nancy, in eastern France, a friendship treaty strengthening the partnership between the two countries, a sign of growing weight in Poland Europe, key actor on the eastern flank against Russia.
The treaty, similar to those already signed by France with Germany, Italy and Spain, was initialed at the town hall of Nancy, in Lorraine. This treaty contains “A defense and mutual assistance clause” to set up “A truly integrated defense partnership”underlined Emmanuel Macron after the signing, specifying that he does not “In any case replaces” the framework of NATO or the European Union. The agreement provides Also “Strengthened cooperation to combat foreign interference, cyber attacks or everything that threatens our democracies”, he added.
The French president hammered on Friday that the “Vital interests” of France, at the base of its nuclear deterrence strategy, also included those of its “Main partners” A Europe. “Since the 1960s, with the words of general de Gaulle, the European dimension of this deterrence has been affirmed and it has been constantly reaffirmed by all my predecessors and I could do it myselfrecalled Emmanuel Macron alongside the Polish Prime Minister. This means that in the decision -making of what vital interests are, the interests of our main partners are integrated ”.
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The Head of State has detailed several areas of priority cooperation in industry and innovation, including new technologies, artificial intelligence, but also energy and cybersecurity.
For his part, Donald Tusk welcomed a treaty that will, according to him, “Strengthen European stability”, also congratulating “Mutual defense and cooperation guarantees in industry, rupture technologies and the nuclear field” that he plans. Mr. Tusk also reiterated the commitment of the two countries alongside the Ukrainian people, saying to hope that war “Will get to an end”.
The Mutual Defense Clause of the Treaty “Open the possibility of cooperation” In terms of nuclear deterrence, said Donald Tusk before his departure for France. “This mutual support clause in the event of aggression against one of our countries is the very essence of this treaty”he had congratulated himself. The two countries had already concluded such a bilateral treaty in 1991, while Poland came out of the Soviet glacis, but less ambitious.
A sequence loaded with symbols
The two leaders found themselves at midday in the Lorraine city for a sequence in charge of symbols: May 9 is also the day of Europe, which this year celebrates the 75th anniversary of European construction, while in Moscow the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, attended an imposing military parade in the Red Square, for the 80th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany.
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In the background of this meeting: the war in Ukraine, which, three years after the start of the Russian offensive, did not weaken despite Donald Trump’s promise to end it, and a threat of American disengagement which pushes Europe to rearm massively. “President Putin is on the side of war, not on the side of peace (…) and those who may have thought that he had a hint of peace are on their behalf”Emmanuel Macron said from Nancy on Friday.
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The French President intends to raise the relationship with Warsaw at the level of that already acted with Germany, Italy or Spain through the Treaties of the Elysée (1963), Quirinal (2021) and Barcelona (2023). “Poland is our other very large European partner. There was no reason, it was even an anomaly to consider that we had a privileged treaty with Germany [renforcé à Aix-la-Chapelle en 2019]that we had enhanced our relationship with Italy and to Spain, but not with it ”underlines the Elysée.
Fearing the threat of the great Russian neighbor and active support from Ukraine, Poland, a country of some 38 million inhabitants, has embarked on an accelerated modernization program of its army and has become a major political and military player in Europe. So far very dependent on the United States for its defense, it is deeply shaken by the climate of uncertainty generated by Donald Trump’s ambivalences to Europe.
France hopes to strengthen military and diplomatic coordination in the region, and no longer let the United States dominate dialogue with the Poles. It also puts on a new market for its defense industry when Warsaw seeks to acquire transport aircraft, supply aircraft or even submarines.
Vital interests
Warsaw is interested in the French idea of a European nuclear umbrella. A proposal deemed “Very promising” By Donald Tusk and who also draws the attention of Berlin.
France is the only country in Western Europe, with the United Kingdom, endowed with nuclear weapons. The other European countries members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization are so far under the umbrella of American nuclear deterrence. But in the face of transatlantic upheavals, Emmanuel Macron said he was ready to “Open the strategic debate on protection by our deterrence of our allies from the European continent”.
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Like his predecessors, he noted on several occasions that the vital interests of France, at the base of his doctrine of deterrence, had a “European dimension”which could therefore include neighboring countries, even beyond. But he also pointed out that, “Whatever happens, the decision has always been and will remain in the hands of the President of the Republic”.
Concerned about the symbols, Emmanuel Macron and Donald Tusk signed this new treaty in a decor steeped in history for the two countries, already linked by a secular friendship. Nancy was the residence of the King of Poland Stanislas Leszczynski, who became Duke of Lorraine after being exiled from his country, and stepfather of the King of France Louis XV. The reunion of MM. Macron and Tusk take place in Stanislas, architectural jewel of the city.
The signature comes a week before the presidential election in Poland, on May 18, for which the mayor of Warsaw, Rafal Trzaskowski, candidate of the Civic Coalition of Donald Tusk, is given favorite.
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