Poland expands defence industry ties with UK and US

On 27 July, the Polish chemical explosives producer NITRO‑CHEM signed a letter of intent with British defence contractor BAE Systems in Kraśnik. The pact, announced by State Secretary for Defence Magdalena Sobkowiak‑Czarnecka, will develop joint projects to increase TNT output – about 10 000 t per year in Poland and an additional 2 000 t in the United Kingdom – and boost Poland’s strategic resilience under the UK‑Poland security treaty.

During the same period, Deputy Minister Sobkowiak‑Czarnecka visited Washington, meeting officials from the Pentagon, the State Department and Lockheed Martin. She proposed locating the service centre for Patriot PAC‑3 MSE missiles and related production in Poland rather than Ukraine, citing safety concerns. Discussions also covered a potential US military base on Polish soil and the need to amend the EU‑US Defence Cooperation Agreement (EDCA). Both initiatives aim to make Poland a hub for advanced defence manufacturing and allied cooperation.