Germany and Poland Mark 35 Years of Friendship as New Defense Pact Looms
Berlin – On June 17, 2026, Germany and Poland will commemorate the 35th anniversary of the Treaty on Good Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation, a landmark accord signed in 1991. The milestone will be underscored by the signing of a new German-Polish defense agreement on the same day, signaling a deepening of military ties between the two nations.
A Historic Foundation
The original treaty was signed on June 17, 1991, by Polish Prime Minister Jan Krzysztof Bielecki and German Chancellor Helmut Kohl in Bonn. It formally confirmed the Oder-Neisse line as the border and laid the groundwork for a strategic partnership following decades of post-war hostility.
The Polish Senate recently praised the treaty as a "foundation of the new order in Europe."
An Anniversary Marked by Cooperation
The 2026 anniversary will be celebrated at the German-Polish Forum in Berlin. German lawmaker Knut Abraham expressed gratitude, stating that Germans are thankful for Poland’s hand of friendship extended in 1991.
Key Voices
- Marek Krzakala, Polish lawmaker and chair of the Polish-German parliamentary group, noted the treaty "drew a line under the past and laid the foundation for cooperation in the future." He added that without Germany's support, Poland's accession to the EU and NATO would have been significantly more difficult.
- Jaroslaw Kaczynski, head of the Law and Justice party, has previously taken a different tone, accusing Berlin of wanting to establish a "Fourth Reich."
A Lingering Shadow: WWII Reparations
Poland estimates its losses from World War II occupation at €1.4 trillion. Germany has rejected official reparations but proposed €200 million for surviving victims—a sum Poland deemed insufficient in 2024.
Call for Eastern Border Support
Polish diplomat Janusz Reiter called for active German support in securing Poland’s eastern border and emphasized the challenge of integrating Ukraine into Western structures.
From Enmity to Partnership
After WWII, relations were defined by the Oder-Neisse border dispute. West Germany’s Ostpolitik in the 1970s normalized relations but did not fully resolve tensions.
The collapse of communism in Poland (1989) and German reunification (1990) created the conditions for the 1991 treaty. Since then, cooperation has flourished:
- Hundreds of city and school partnerships
- Over 3 million youth exchanges
- Trade exceeding €180 billion in 2025
Military Cooperation Intensifies
Military cooperation has intensified significantly after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Germany has since deployed Patriot missile systems and Eurofighter jets to Poland, reinforcing a security partnership that will be further solidified by the upcoming defense agreement.