Poland and Finland strengthen alliance amid Russian threats. Baltic security as a priority

Baltic Sea at the core of strategy

The Polish president emphasized that the Baltic Sea basin remains one of the top priorities for Warsaw’s foreign and security policy.

- Relations with Finland are of strategic importance. We are not only partners in the EU and in bilateral terms, but above all allies committed to regional security, he said.

Shared assessment of Russian policy

Both leaders agreed that the Kremlin’s actions continue to pose a long-term threat to Europe’s eastern flank. They underlined that Finland’s experience in civil defense and Poland’s role as a frontline state provide valuable perspectives for NATO.

- Neither Poles nor Finns trust Vladimir Putin’s intentions. Russia’s aggression against Ukraine is a clear warning that other states in the region may also be targeted, noted the Polish president.

Military cooperation and NATO framework

Recent high-level meetings between the Polish and Finnish armed forces highlight the deepening military ties. The presidents also discussed the potential expansion of the Bucharest Nine format to include Nordic countries, reinforcing NATO’s eastern and northern flanks.

At the same time, Warsaw ruled out the deployment of Polish combat troops to Ukraine. Instead, Poland will continue its role as a logistical hub for Western aid and maintain strong support in humanitarian, financial and military assistance.

Transatlantic dimension

A significant part of the talks focused on U.S. security commitments. The decision of president Donald Trump to maintain American forces in Poland was described as a “positive signal for Central Europe, the Baltics and the Nordics.”

Asked about media reports suggesting possible cuts in U.S. funding under Section 333, the Polish president said that Washington’s policy aims to encourage European allies to invest more in their own defense.

- Poland and Finland are already allocating billions of dollars to state-of-the-art equipment such as F-35 fighters. Reaching 5% of GDP on defense should be the ambition of all NATO states facing Russia’s neo-imperial threat, he stressed.

Economic and energy cooperation

Beyond defense, both presidents highlighted the development of bilateral economic cooperation, including in the nuclear energy sector and high-tech industries. Strengthening energy independence was identified as another strategic pillar of Baltic security.

The Helsinki meeting confirmed that Poland and Finland are determined to shape a joint strategy in response to Russian aggression. Their partnership – military, political and economic – plays a key role in safeguarding the Baltic Sea region and NATO’s eastern flank.