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| Theresa May plans new defence treaty on visit to Poland | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Brexit will strengthen, not weaken, the UK's ties with Poland, Theresa May has insisted on a visit to Warsaw - where she has announced plans for enhanced defence and security co-operation. | |
| Poland will still "matter greatly" to the UK after it leaves the EU, she said, citing shared history and values. | |
| A new defence treaty signed by the PM and her Polish counterpart is a "powerful symbol" of co-operation. | |
| The UK has also backed an initiative to blunt Russian propaganda in the region. | |
| Downing Street said the treaty was only the second such agreement the UK has with a European ally, after France. | |
| It provides a framework for enhanced co-operation in training, information sharing, defence procurement and joint exercises between the Nato partners. | |
| Mrs May's trip comes after she sacked one of her closest allies, Damian Green, for making "misleading" statements about claims pornography was found on his parliamentary computer. | Mrs May's trip comes after she sacked one of her closest allies, Damian Green, for making "misleading" statements about claims pornography was found on his parliamentary computer. |
| Senior members of the cabinet, including Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, Chancellor Philip Hammond and Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson, have joined her on the visit. | Senior members of the cabinet, including Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, Chancellor Philip Hammond and Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson, have joined her on the visit. |
| Relationship after Brexit | Relationship after Brexit |
| Mrs May has vowed that after the UK's departure from the EU in March 2019, the "deep ties of friendship" between the countries will continue to flourish. | |
| "Poland matters greatly to the UK," Mrs May she has told a bilateral summit in the Polish capital. | |
| "Our partnership is broad, vibrant and diverse and we both share a steadfast commitment to Europe's security and defence. | "Our partnership is broad, vibrant and diverse and we both share a steadfast commitment to Europe's security and defence. |
| "I am determined that Brexit will not weaken our relationship with Poland. Rather, it will serve as a catalyst to strengthen it." | "I am determined that Brexit will not weaken our relationship with Poland. Rather, it will serve as a catalyst to strengthen it." |
| The PM recently wrote to the 980,000 Poles in the UK urging them to stay in the country after Brexit, reassuring them that the process of applying for settled status will be quick and inexpensive. | The PM recently wrote to the 980,000 Poles in the UK urging them to stay in the country after Brexit, reassuring them that the process of applying for settled status will be quick and inexpensive. |
| Russian propaganda | Russian propaganda |
| Mrs May has also announced that the UK is to provide £5m of funding to a joint UK-Polish plan to counter Russian misinformation in the region. | |
| Part of the money will go towards supporting Belsat, a Polish-funded TV channel broadcasting in Belarus, one of Russia's closest allies in the region. | Part of the money will go towards supporting Belsat, a Polish-funded TV channel broadcasting in Belarus, one of Russia's closest allies in the region. |
| Last month, Mrs May said Moscow was seeking to "sow discord" in the West by meddling in elections and mounting cyber attacks against critical infrastructure. | Last month, Mrs May said Moscow was seeking to "sow discord" in the West by meddling in elections and mounting cyber attacks against critical infrastructure. |
| Concerns over judges | Concerns over judges |
| Her visit comes hours after the EU announced disciplinary measures against Poland, accusing the country of undermining the independence of its judges. | Her visit comes hours after the EU announced disciplinary measures against Poland, accusing the country of undermining the independence of its judges. |
| Downing Street said Mrs May would raise her concerns with new Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. | Downing Street said Mrs May would raise her concerns with new Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. |
| Daniel Kawczynski, a Conservative MP and chair of the all-party parliamentary group on Poland, spoke to Mrs May ahead of her trip and said he does not expect her to publicly condemn Poland. | Daniel Kawczynski, a Conservative MP and chair of the all-party parliamentary group on Poland, spoke to Mrs May ahead of her trip and said he does not expect her to publicly condemn Poland. |
| He told Radio 4's Today programme: "It's very, very important for the prime minister to back our Polish allies. | He told Radio 4's Today programme: "It's very, very important for the prime minister to back our Polish allies. |
| "This is a very important trading partner for the UK and a key Nato ally of ours." | "This is a very important trading partner for the UK and a key Nato ally of ours." |