On Wednesday, July 24, 2024, a meeting took place in Warsaw between Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz and the British Minister of Defense John Healey. The discussions between the defense ministers covered, among other topics, the security situation in Europe two years after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the outcomes of the recent NATO summit in Washington, and projects implemented within the framework of bilateral cooperation (NATO Summit: Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine).
Photo: Krzysztof Niedziela/Polish Ministry Of National Defense
“Thank you for a very good meeting and for the excellent Polish-British relations. This is for us an expression of extraordinary trust, friendship, and cooperation. Today, the Minister was in Paris in the morning, in Berlin at noon, and in the evening he is in Warsaw. This shows how important a partner Poland is for the United Kingdom. It shows how important security and our cooperation are. Our friendship has never been as strong as it is now. Thank you for such an approach to Polish-British cooperation. The new government, which emerged after the elections in the United Kingdom, has clearly defined its priorities,” said Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz after the meeting with the British Minister of Defense.
“We have the same approach to security in Europe and around the world. Together, we made decisions at the last NATO summit in Washington. We are determined to strengthen our capabilities and our armed forces. Poland and the United Kingdom are united in their efforts for freedom, peace, and democracy. These are our core values to which we remain faithful,” emphasized the Deputy Prime Minister after the meeting.
The Deputy Prime Minister informed that a group of British engineering troops will be sent to Poland to conduct reconnaissance regarding the possibility of supporting the construction of the Eastern Shield project (Operation Safe Podlasie is launching: 17,000 soldiers will be involved in border protection).
“Today, we discussed the situation on the Polish-Belarusian border and the attacks on Polish soldiers. I presented videos of these attacks. I am very grateful for the support at the NATO summit and today in Poland regarding the eastern flank of NATO, the border of the Western world, as a shared responsibility of the NATO member states. This has a tangible effect. Soon, a group of British engineering troops will be sent to Poland to make decisions on supporting Poland in the construction of the Eastern Shield. The reconnaissance group will conduct reconnaissance and continue their mission. (…) Another outcome of our conversation is the declaration to send 4-6 Eurofighters for the Air Policing mission, to patrol Polish airspace next year. The Sky Sabre system, which protects the airport in Jasionka, is also in Poland. I thank you for keeping this system in Poland until the end of the year,” emphasized the Deputy Prime Minister.
A British component is stationed in in Bemowo Piskie, Poland, carrying out tasks as part of the Forward Land Forces (FLF) multinational battle group, which is an important element in strengthening NATO’s eastern flank. The British Sky Sabre air defense system is also deployed in our country to enhance allied air defense.
The United Kingdom is also a strategic partner for Poland in the use of defense technologies and the modernization of the Polish Armed Forces, including the implementation of the Narew and Miecznik programs.
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