The security situation in Eastern Europe is getting tenser with every passing week. Even though the crisis on the Polish – Belarusian border has lost in intensity lately (mostly due to cold temperatures), the tension is still rising around Ukraine. The latter is under a serious threat of military invasion by its neighbour, Russia.  

“When recently Belarus cynically used […] illegal immigration and forced people to cross the border, Great Britain stood shoulder to shoulder with Poland and sent 100 sappers to support Poland in preventing the use of migrants as a tool,” Ben Wallace, the British Defence Minister told the press following his meeting with Mariusz Błaszczak. 

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“In this spirit of solidarity and to these 100 sappers, we will send an additional 350 British soldiers […] to show that we can work together and send a strong signal that Great Britain and Poland are standing hand in hand,” Wallace announced, adding that “only a strong policy of deterrence will stop Russia’s aggressive stance.„

In turn, Polish Defence Minister stated that Poland and the United Kingdom are “ready to discourage the aggressor from taking aggressive actions through the policy of deterrence”. 

“Historical experience says it straight: only a determined policy of deterrence will stop Russia’s aggressive stance,” he added, assuring that Poland would accept British soldiers in Poland as soon as possible.

“We want British soldiers to operate, of course, to the East of the Vistula, on the territory of the Republic of Poland, where we are focusing our attention,” Błaszczak explained. 

Cover photo: iStock

Author: Sébastien Meuwissen