Plans to extend a vast Cold War-era pipeline eastwards in order to bolster NATO’s fuel resilience are set to top the agenda at defence cooperation talks between French President Emmanuel Macron and Polish leader Donald Tusk in Gdansk on Monday.
"This summit aligns with the Franco-Polish Treaty of Friendship and Enhanced Cooperation, signed on May 9, 2025 in Nancy, which contains a provision on defence and mutual assistance that directly concerns France’s closest allies", an adviser to Macron told reporters ahead of the Monday's meeting.
The Treaty of Nancy has brought Poland into the exclusive circle of states to which France has pledged mutual military assistance.
Today’s summit is expected to provide an opportunity to sign several partnerships in the fields of satellites and military communications.
Poland’s Energy Minister Milosz Motyka confirmed discussions during Macron’s visit are set to focus on expanding NATO's jet fuel network, to better support countries on the alliance's eastern flank in the event of conflict with Russia.
The pipeline system, stretching some 10,000km, was originally designed during the Cold War to supply Western air forces in a potential confrontation with the Soviet Union.
Today it still plays a crucial dual role, supplying both military bases and major civilian hubs, including Frankfurt Airport in Germany.
What makes the network particularly valuable is its flexibility, as the jet fuel it carries can also be adapted for use in ground transport.
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'Two-speed NATO'
Despite spanning 12 countries, the pipeline currently ends in western Germany, leaving NATO members further east without direct access. That gap has become of increasing concern as tensions with Russia persist.
Motyka said the proposed extension would help eliminate what he described as a “two-speed NATO”, where infrastructure readiness differs for western and eastern members.
For Poland and its neighbours, the regions most exposed to potential conflict should not be the least connected when it comes to critical supplies.
At the same time, Motyka stressed that improving mobility in the east would ultimately strengthen security across the entire alliance, including in Western Europe.
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The push for expansion comes against a backdrop of renewed concern over global fuel supplies. The war in Iran has disrupted key routes between Asia and Europe which rely on Gulf hubs.
Jet fuel prices have roughly doubled, while supply constraints are squeezing airlines and exposing vulnerabilities in existing logistics networks.
Beyond defence, energy cooperation will also featuring prominently during Macron’s visit to Gdansk. Poland is pressing ahead with plans for a second nuclear power plant, and France is among the countries invited to take part in discussions on the project.
(with newswires)
