Eastern Europe Tensions: Poland Strengthens Defences
Following Finland's announcement to fortify its over 1,300-kilometre border with Russia, Poland, a nation bordering the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, has made a similar declaration.
Poland will invest more than 4 billion euros to strengthen its border with both Russia and Belarus.
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski referenced the United Kingdom of Great Britain as an example, highlighting that in responding to Russia under Putin's leadership, London acted more swiftly than member states of the European Union. The UK did not require reaching a consensus within a 27-member bloc on issues such as sanctions against the Kremlin and aid for Ukraine.
Poland is now taking independent steps to secure its eastern borders. Foreign Minister Sikorski expressed that an ideal outcome would be a Ukrainian victory in the war. He echoed the call from British Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron urging NATO allies to achieve the defence spending target of 2% of GDP.
Poland, sharing a border with both Ukraine and Russia, has increased its defence spending to 4% of GDP this year. The UK has also pledged to raise its spending to 2.5%.
In an effort to bolster its defences against what it perceives as a growing threat from Russia and Belarus, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced on Saturday that Poland would invest 10 billion zloty (over 4 billion euros) to secure its eastern border.
"We are launching a major project to construct a secure border, which will include a series of fortifications," Tusk said. "Additionally, land management and environmental planning decisions will be implemented to render this border impossible to penetrate for a potential adversary." The Shield-East project exemplifies Warsaw's recent intensification of its defence efforts following accusations against Moscow and Minsk of attempting to destabilise Poland.
Poland's border with Belarus has been a tense region since 2021, when migrants began to gather there after Minsk, a close ally of Russia, essentially opened travel agencies in the Middle East, establishing a new, unofficial route into Europe.
Land management and environmental planning are crucial aspects that will render this Polish border impenetrable for a possible adversary. However, the Polish government has yet to provide further details regarding the specific types of fortifications that will be constructed.
AUTHOR: Dan Alexe
Translation by Iurie Tataru
