IDM Short Insights 58: German-Polish Friendship
Even though the history still throws its shadow over the German Polish relationship, on the 17th of June this year, both countries were willing to further deepen their friendship by a new bilateral agreement that will help to make combined military actions easier in the future. To learn more about what this agreement exactly covers in only 2 Minutes, watch this Video or read the transcription!
Transcript:
„So, 35 years after the Treaty of Good Neighbour ship and friendly cooperation was signed between Poland and Germany, the two countries signed a new bilateral agreement on the 17th of June this year. The whole project aims to strengthen Natos eastern flank and to show that in times of prices with the Russian aggression towards Ukraine, the European countries stand together.
First of all, it is important to note that this new bilateral agreement is not a new defence agreement between Germany and Poland. It just further deepens articles from NATO and from the EU. What the agreement exactly will help to ensure is that it will get easier to move military equipment and also soldiers easier and faster from country to country. And as already discussed, it’s really about cybersecurity. There is this joint command for the Baltic Sea. And all of this is to reinforce Poland’s eastern, so-called Eastern Shield, which runs along the border towards Russia and Belarus.
This corporation is heavily shaped by the legacy of World War 2. So when the peace government was still ruling in Poland, the peace government asked Germany to pay one around €1.2 billion as a compensation for the occupation. During the Second World War, Germany always refused to pay this high amount of money. And it’s very likely, unfortunately, in the future that these historical tensions will come up again as Poland is looking at a new general election next year and peace might get power again. So this is something that throws a shadow over the agreement.
However, this agreement really shows the trust that European countries have towards each other and also the close cooperation on topics that and foster peace and stability as well as security within the EU.
