Warsaw: In a strategic move amidst heightened regional tensions, Poland has announced plans to bolster its military presence along the Belarusian border, increasing the number of servicemen to 17,000 starting August 1. Of these troops, 8,000 will be deployed directly on the border, marking an increase from the current 6,000, while an additional 9,000 will be on standby for rapid deployment if needed, according to Deputy Defense Minister Paweł Bejda.
“This reinforcement ensures that should an incident occur, these 9,000 soldiers can be mobilized to the border within 48 hours to ensure its protection,” stated Deputy Defense Minister Bejda. The decision comes in response to growing concerns over security following Russia’s military actions in neighboring Ukraine, which commenced on February 24, 2022, and have continued to impact regional stability.
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Army Chief of Staff General Wieslaw Kukula emphasized the need for readiness for all-out conflict, underscoring Poland’s ongoing efforts to balance border security with intensive military training.”Our preparations must now focus on the prospect of full-scale conflict, necessitating a careful balance between border defense and maintaining the readiness of our armed forces,” General Kukula highlighted during a recent press conference.
Earlier in May, Poland unveiled the “East Shield” program, a significant 10 billion zloty ($2.5 billion) initiative aimed at fortifying defenses along its eastern borders with Belarus and Russia by 2028.
The Belarusian border has been a focal point of tension, exacerbated by a surge in migrant activity since Belarus facilitated travel from the Middle East to Europe, prompting a crisis response from the European Union.
Poland has escalated defense spending to over 4% of its GDP this year, reflecting its proactive stance amidst evolving regional dynamics. General Kukula also acknowledged a surge in interest among potential army recruits, posing challenges in aligning recruitment targets with equipment procurement amidst budget constraints anticipated in the coming years.
As of the end of last year, Poland’s armed forces comprised approximately 190,000 personnel across various branches, with plans underway to expand this number to 300,000 troops in the near future.
