Not long ago, Donald Tusk insisted that he felt completely at home in European politics and would not be outmaneuvered by anyone. Yet during the Paris summit, the creation of a new coalition aimed at strengthening Europe’s ballistic missile defense was announced. Poland was absent from the group of nine countries that signed the joint declaration – even though the prime minister himself attended the meeting.
New Coalition Without Poland
At the Élysée Palace, the leaders of Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Ukraine announced the launch of work on establishing the Anti-Ballistic Missile Coalition. The initiative is intended to enhance capabilities for defending against ballistic missiles and to strengthen Europe’s security.
In a joint statement, the signatories emphasized that the project is purely defensive in nature and will complement existing missile defense systems. They also pledged to move quickly in developing new capabilities and to deepen cooperation within the defense industry.
Tusk Was Present, but Poland Was Not Among the Signatories
The new initiative was unveiled during the summit of the so-called “coalition of the willing” in Paris, which Donald Tusk also attended. Despite his presence, Poland was not among the countries that signed the declaration establishing the new coalition.
The omission attracted attention because the project concerns the security of the European continent, while Poland has been regarded as one of the key states on NATO’s eastern flank since the beginning of the war in Ukraine.
Tusk Explains Poland’s Absence
The prime minister argued that there was no reason for concern. He explained that numerous coalitions currently operate across Europe, each focused on specific areas of defense – from ammunition production and counter-drone systems to the security of the Alliance’s eastern border.
According to Tusk, the new coalition is primarily an industrial initiative. He noted that it includes countries whose companies have already declared their readiness to contribute the necessary technological capabilities. He added that Polish companies are still assessing their potential and that the initiative remains open. He assured that if the domestic defense industry presents a suitable offer, Poland will be able to join the coalition.