Merz stresses unity in Nawrocki meeting overshadowed by WWII claims

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz assured Poland's newly-minted President Karol Nawrocki of his country's full solidarity in light of the threat emanating from Russia, as the right-wing populist made his inaugural visit to Berlin on Tuesday.

Hanging over the meeting were Nawrocki's repeated demands that Germany make further reparations to Poland for damage suffered during World War II.

Before departing for the German capital, Nawrocki, who took office in August, said he was determined to bring up the issue while in Berlin, though a German government spokesman said the topic had not come up in talks with Merz.

During their meeting at the chancellery, Merz stressed that Germany stands "firmly and unwaveringly" alongside Poland, which borders Ukraine, according to deputy government spokesman Sebastian Hille.

Joint security in the Baltic Sea region and on NATO's eastern flank remains a "high priority" following the recent incursion of Russian military drones into Polish airspace, said Merz.

Last week, at least 19 Russian drones entered Polish airspace, marking the first time Polish and NATO forces shot down drones over Poland. Debris was scattered across the country, hundreds of kilometres from the eastern border.

Germany has since stepped up military support for its eastern neighbour, with four German Eurofighter jets on standby to monitor Polish airspace.

Berlin rejects further WWII reparations

While Nawrocki did not discuss the issue of World War II reparations with Merz, he is understood to have brought up the matter with President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who received him with military honours at the start of the visit to Berlin.

Berlin rejects making further payments for damage suffered during World War II, considering the issue of reparations legally settled - a position repeated by Steinmeier on Tuesday.

The matter has been "legally clarified from a German perspective," Steinmeier was quoted as saying by his spokeswoman on X.

However, promoting remembrance and commemoration remains a common concern, according to the German president.

Ahead of his visit to Berlin, Nawrocki told German tabloid Bild: "This is something that is important to the Polish people. And it will also be the subject of discussions between partners."

Friendly presidential talks

During talks with Steinmeier at the German president's official residence, the two leaders agreed on the need for close and trusted cooperation between their nations, with Nawrocki inviting Steinmeier to Poland, according to dpa information.

Despite opposing positions regarding the issue of war reparations, the talks were held in a friendly and constructive atmosphere.

Germany made reparations to Poland following the end of World War II via agreements involving the Soviet Union. In 1953, the communist leadership in Warsaw waived further reparations from 1954 onwards.

Historic arrangements governing German reparation to Poland are complicated, partially due to Soviet influence following the war and the division of Germany.

An agreement reached between the three victorious powers - the United States, Britain and the Soviet Union - following the end of World War II in Europe stipulated that Polish compensation claims were to be met by the Soviet Union from reparations received from its occupation zone.

Large parts of reparations made to Poland until 1953 were thus made by what would become the communist East Germany. That year, the communist leadership in Warsaw waived further reparations from 1954 onwards.

Poland's opposition conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party, which Nawrocki is close to, had set up a parliamentary commission on this issue during its time in government. Three years ago, this commission estimated the amount of reparations at €1.3 trillion ($1.5 trillion).

A staunch eurosceptic, Nawrocki, who ran as an independent, won the run-off election in early June by a small margin over Warsaw's liberal Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski.

The victory marked a significant political defeat for the pro-European government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk. The 42-year-old historian Nawrocki is also considered a supporter of US President Donald Trump.

Following his engagements in Berlin, the Polish president is scheduled to head to Paris for a meeting with President Emmanuel Macron.