On Tuesday, May 12, 2026, Secretary of State at the Ministry of National Defence Cezary Tomczyk, together with a U.S. delegation led by Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Thomas G. DiNanno, visited the area where the National Deterrence and Defense Program ‒ “East Shield” ‒ is being implemented in Podlaskie Voivodeship. U.S. Ambassador to Poland Tom Rose also attended the meeting.
Photos: Polish Ministry of National Defence
The delegation was briefed on infrastructure solutions being developed under the “East Shield” program, including the operation of storage sites for engineering-obstacle components and the system securing the Polish-Belarusian border. Practical solutions were also presented in the areas of countermobility, logistics support, and the preparation of infrastructure enabling the rapid deployment of the defense system along potential threat axes.
During a press conference, Secretary of State at the Ministry of National Defence Cezary Tomczyk emphasized the importance of the program for the security of the region and the entire Alliance.
“East Shield, together with the Baltic Defense Line, is now becoming the foundation of the security of Poland, the European Union, and the whole of NATO,” the deputy defence minister noted.
Referring to Polish-U.S. cooperation, Minister Cezary Tomczyk stated that the alliance between Poland and the United States is of fundamental importance to Poland’s security, while also emphasizing that the presence of U.S. troops in Poland is one of the foundations of security on NATO’s eastern flank.
The deputy defence minister also drew attention to the technological dimension of the program.
“East Shield is a national deterrence and defense program that combines classic engineering solutions with modern technologies, including counter-drone systems,” he said. “We are building not only defense infrastructure, but also technological and industrial capabilities that strengthen the security of Poland and the entire Alliance,” he added.
The minister also emphasized the importance of technological cooperation with the United States.
“The largest counter-drone system in Europe, being developed on NATO’s eastern flank, is being built in cooperation with the United States,” he noted.
U.S. Under Secretary of State Thomas G. DiNanno pointed to the importance of transatlantic cooperation and joint efforts to strengthen border security. He said the work being carried out under the program was an example of the kind of partnership the United States would like to continue developing in the future. He also emphasized that every sovereign state has both the right and the responsibility to protect its borders and decide who enters its territory.
The U.S. representative also noted that the United States and Poland share the view that secure borders and close cooperation are essential to the security of both nations. He described the Polish-U.S. relationship as one of the most important successes of the transatlantic partnership.
The National Deterrence and Defense Program – East Shield remains one of the key undertakings strengthening the security of NATO’s eastern flank and the deterrence and defense capabilities of the Republic of Poland. The project is being implemented in close cooperation with allied partners, including the Baltic states developing the Baltic Defence Line project.
The program is currently in a phase of intensive infrastructure implementation. By the end of 2026, approximately 260 km of the state border will be secured with engineering measures. The scope of ongoing work includes the construction of fortification systems, anti-tank ditches, engineering obstacles, material-storage facilities, and logistics and reconnaissance infrastructure.
At the same time, observation systems, military communications, and solutions intended to counter unmanned aerial vehicles are being developed. The program also includes the development of medical and logistics support infrastructure for troops operating on the eastern flank.
The East Shield program is being implemented primarily on State Treasury land and forms part of a broader system to strengthen the state’s resilience against conventional and hybrid threats.
12 maja br. sekretarz stanu w Ministerstwie Obrony Narodowej @CTomczyk wraz z delegacją 🇺🇸, której przewodniczył Podsekretarz Stanu ds. kontroli zbrojeń i bezpieczeństwa międzynarodowego Thomas G. DiNanno, wizytował obszar realizacji programu #TarczaWschód w województwie… pic.twitter.com/eUInjV58x3
— Ministerstwo Obrony Narodowej 🇵🇱 (@MON_GOV_PL) May 12, 2026
See also:
- BZE Belma to deliver hundreds of thousands of scatterable anti-tank mines to the Polish Armed Forces
- Poland: Operational tests of innovative solutions for the East Shield program
- Eleven entities interested in supplying anti-personnel mines to the Polish Armed Forces
- Innovations for Poland’s East Shield Program: Over 660 Submissions, Field Tests and Deployments
- East Shield: Strengthening Security Along Poland’s Eastern Border – Results and Plans for 2026