Poland Joins Anti-Ballistic Coalition to Build European Missile Shield

Poland has formally joined the Anti-Ballistic Coalition, a new grouping dedicated to establishing a unified European missile defense system capable of intercepting ballistic missiles, Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed on the sidelines of the Carpathian Initiative summit.

The declaration came as Tusk held bilateral talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to outline practical coordination between Warsaw and Kyiv within the coalition framework. According to Tusk, the coalition's objective is to pool national sensor and interceptor assets into a cohesive shield, strengthening the continent's resilience against emerging ballistic threats without duplicating existing NATO structures.

Poland's participation signals Warsaw's intent to play a leading role in shaping a collective defense architecture that bridges EU and NATO capabilities, particularly along the alliance's eastern flank. The move follows a series of warnings from Tusk in recent weeks about Russian jet-powered drones and potential strikes on Polish border crossings and critical infrastructure, underscoring the urgency of enhanced air defense cooperation.

Subsequent technical negotiations are expected to define command-and-control procedures, data-sharing protocols, and potential expansion to other interested European states.