Merz says Germany to deepen defense ties with Poland

BERLIN

Germany and Poland will deepen their defense ties amid growing threats to European security, Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced Monday.

At a joint news conference with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Berlin, Merz said the two governments agreed on a joint declaration that lays the groundwork for closer cooperation.

"We will deepen our security and defense cooperation and make it more systematic," Merz told reporters. He added that Germany and Poland have already taken steps following Russia's recent suspected violation of Polish airspace, with Germany deploying Eurofighter jets at a Polish airbase to enhance NATO air policing operations.

"We will be expanding our cooperation in the detection and neutralization of drones. Our land forces will cooperate more closely, including through increased joint exercises. We have also tasked our ministers with drafting a new agreement on defense policy. We intend to conclude this agreement in 2026," he said.

The German chancellor accused Russia of revisionism and attempting to redraw Europe's borders. He said Germany and Poland are determined to support Ukraine and increase Europe's defense capabilities.

“Germany and Poland are indispensable partners. As German chancellor, I want to emphasize that we Germans need a strong Poland as an equal partner,” Merz said. “We have a fundamental interest in this. And we want Poland to be a powerful partner for a secure, free, and prosperous Europe,” he added.

The conservative leader also addressed the difficult history between the two neighboring countries, saying his government believes Germany has an enduring responsibility for the crimes the Nazis committed against Polish citizens during World War II.

Merz said Germany will build a permanent memorial in Berlin dedicated to Polish victims and examine ways to provide further support to survivors of Nazi aggression and occupation.

However, asked about Poland's demands for World War II reparations for the total cost of wartime losses, Merz reiterated Berlin's official position that the issue has been definitively settled—both legally and politically—through past agreements.

"But it is also clear that for us, remembrance and coming to terms with the past will never be complete. Germany acknowledges its historical responsibility," he said.

During Tusk's visit to Berlin, Germany returned various medieval documents looted by the Nazis to Poland, along with the head of a 14th-century sculpture of Saint James the Elder, which was later stolen from Malbork Castle.