Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Poland
Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Poland
06/21/2022 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/22/2022 02:54
Poland strengthens security on NATO's Eastern Flank
Poland strengthens security on NATO's Eastern Flank
21.06.2022
"The soldiers of the Polish Army play an important role here in Latvia. They prove with their daily service that Poland treats its allied obligations seriously, that we are unity within NATO. Here, on Latvian soil, there are soldiers representing 14 countries, so it is a peculiar example of cooperation and solidarity between the North Atlantic Alliance states in the name of collective security, freedom and peace. Because we want to live in peace. That is why we deter the aggressor" - said Mariusz Błaszczak, the Minister of National Defence during a meeting with soldiers of the Polish Army serving in Latvia.
On Tuesday, the June 21st Andrzej Duda, the President of the Republic of Poland and the head of the Ministry of National Defence met at the Adazi base in Latvia with soldiers serving as a part of the multinational battalion battle group.
With its presence in Latvia, Poland confirms allied solidarity and determination in building common defence and deterrence potential.
"We meet the soldiers who serve here in Latvia, but also serve for freedom of our Homeland - Poland. The presence of the North Atlantic Alliance troops on the Eastern Flank is extremely important in the context of the war that is taking place in Ukraine. Russia invaded Ukraine. The Kremlin decided to violate all the rules of international law. It decided to restore the evil empire. Today, in the Kremlin, this will to oppress the revives, the will to attack and subjugate other nations against their volition. We definitely oppose to it and we will do everything to prevent the evil empire from restoring. That is why we support Ukraine"
- said the minister.
Minister Błaszczak also awarded the soldiers of the Polish Military Contingent in Latvia and met his Latvian counterpart, Artis Pabriks. The subject of talks between the heads of the defence ministries was the security situation in the context of Russian aggression in Ukraine, the upcoming NATO summit in Madrid, and military cooperation between Poland and Latvia.
The head of the Ministry of National Defence stressed that the Polish Army is consistently strengthened on the basis of the conclusions of the war in Ukraine.
"Our task is to ensure the security of our Homeland, therefore we are strengthening the Polish Army. We strengthen it quantitatively and equip with modern equipment. Already this year, the first PATRIOT batteries, the first units of the NAREW anti-aircraft system, will be used by the Polish soldiers. Also Bayraktar drones, which proved themselves during the war in Ukraine. Next year, the Polish Army will be equipped with missile artillery and HIMARS launchers. We also focus on the development of artillery produced in our country. We made lessons learnt from conclusions what is happening in Ukraine. We are preparing our armed forces to deter the aggressor"
- he said.
The minister expressed his gratitude to all the contingent soldiers for their service so far.
Addressing the Polish soldiers, he said:"Thank you for your daily service and I wish you all the best. I want us to be able to meet in Poland and jointly strengthen the Polish Armed Forces in the name of freedom and security of our Homeland".
"Anyone who has seen Irpień, Borodianka, Bucha, Mariupol and other places in Ukraine knows perfectly well why today there are allied troops on NATO's Eastern Flank, and why our soldiers serve also in other countries, while serving the security of other countries and nations. and the Alliance as a whole. (...) Anyone who will be seen on our soil as an assailant, as one who encroaches and who attacks it and wants to take it, will be immediately ousted or destroyed. That is why it is not profitable - this is how it should be"
- said Andrzej Duda, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, during his visit to the Adazi base.
During their visit to Latvia, the Polish delegation lit a candle and laid a wreath at the "Vienotiba Speks" monument commemorating the soldiers who died during the service.