Canada and Poland Strengthen Ties on the Sidelines of Munich Security Conference

It wasn’t just speeches and panel discussions in Munich this weekend. Behind closed doors at the annual security gathering in southern Germany, Canada and Poland quietly mapped out the next chapter of their growing partnership.

On February 14, 2026, during the high-profile Munich Security Conference, Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister, the Honourable Anita Anand, sat down with Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Radosław Sikorski.

The conversation reflected a relationship that has steadily gained momentum in recent years.

The meeting took place at the globally watched Munich Security Conference, which ran from February 13 to 15 in Germany.

The forum traditionally draws world leaders, defence chiefs and policy heavyweights to discuss global instability, war, energy security and emerging threats to democracy.

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Poland Joins G7 Rapid Response Mechanism

One of the highlights of the discussion was Poland’s recent accession as an associate member to the G7 Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM).

Minister Anand congratulated Poland, calling the move a meaningful step in strengthening collective resilience against foreign interference and disinformation campaigns.

The G7 RRM was originally created in 2018 to counter coordinated attempts by hostile actors to undermine democratic institutions.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the mechanism has taken on even greater importance, as cyber threats and influence operations have intensified across Europe and North America.

Poland’s inclusion is widely viewed as strategic. As a frontline NATO state bordering Ukraine and Belarus, Poland has firsthand experience confronting hybrid warfare tactics, cyberattacks and foreign propaganda.

That practical knowledge is expected to strengthen the G7’s coordinated response framework.

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Defence Cooperation Takes Centre Stage

Beyond the RRM, defence cooperation was clearly high on the agenda.

Canada has maintained a military presence in Latvia under NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence, while Poland has significantly increased its own defence spending, aiming to reach 4 percent of GDP — one of the highest levels in the alliance.

The ministers explored ways to deepen defence industrial collaboration, including participation through the European Union’s Security Action for Europe instrument.

This could open doors for Canadian defence companies to work more closely with European partners, particularly as Europe accelerates efforts to rebuild and modernize its defence production capacity.

With ongoing security challenges in Eastern Europe, the timing of these talks carries weight.

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Energy and Critical Minerals on the Table

Security wasn’t limited to military issues. Energy cooperation featured prominently in the discussions.

Poland has been working to diversify its energy sources, moving away from heavy reliance on Russian gas. Canada, as a major energy producer and a key player in nuclear technology and renewable energy development, presents an attractive partner.

The ministers discussed cooperation in nuclear energy and wind power, areas where both countries are expanding investment. Poland is planning its first nuclear power plants, while Canada continues to modernize its CANDU reactor technology and expand renewable capacity.

Critical minerals were another shared priority. Both nations possess significant reserves of minerals essential for electric vehicles, batteries and clean technology supply chains.

As global competition intensifies over lithium, cobalt and rare earth elements, collaboration between trusted partners has become increasingly strategic.

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A Strategic Partnership That’s Growing

The Canada-Poland relationship has steadily deepened over the past decade. Beyond defence and energy, the two countries share strong people-to-people ties.

Canada is home to a large Polish diaspora, and bilateral trade has grown under the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between Canada and the European Union.

During the meeting, both ministers agreed that the relationship has matured into a genuine strategic partnership. They committed to further advancing cooperation through the first meeting of the Canada-Poland High-Level Steering Group, expected later this year.

That upcoming session is likely to translate diplomatic dialogue into more structured and measurable initiatives.

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What’s Next?

The next milestone will be the inaugural meeting of the Canada-Poland High-Level Steering Group.

Observers expect that gathering to produce more concrete deliverables — possibly including defence procurement discussions, energy investment frameworks and expanded cooperation on countering foreign interference.

As geopolitical tensions continue across Europe and beyond, partnerships like this are becoming less symbolic and more operational.

With Poland playing an increasingly central role in European security and Canada positioning itself as a reliable transatlantic partner, both sides appear ready to move from conversation to action.

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Summary

On February 14, 2026, in Munich, Germany, Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand met with Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski during the Munich Security Conference.

The ministers welcomed Poland’s accession to the G7 Rapid Response Mechanism as an associate member and discussed strengthening cooperation in defence, energy, critical minerals and security.

They also agreed to deepen their strategic partnership, including through the first meeting of the Canada-Poland High-Level Steering Group later this year.