2025-12-18 18:38
publication
2025-12-18 18:38
NATO is united and ready to deter aggression and defend our security and freedom, assured NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Thursday after a meeting with the head of the Ministry of National Defense, Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz. He also declared further support for Ukraine.
On Thursday, Kosiniak-Kamysz and Rutte visited Orzysz (Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship), where the multinational NATO Battalion Battle Group is stationed; they also met with the soldiers stationed there.
Rutte emphasized at a joint press conference with the head of the Ministry of National Defense that Orzysz is just one example of how allies unite for common security. – It is also an example of Poland's many contributions to our collective defense – he added.
– NATO is united and ready to deter aggression and defend our security and freedom, Rutte said. He also declared further support for Ukraine.
The head of NATO admitted that “Poland is becoming stronger militarily.” – You show leadership by spending 4.5%. GDP for defense, and this amount will increasedream next year. Next year you will start receiving F-35 fighters and I appreciate your plans to increase the strength of your armed forces to reach 300,000 soldiers – said Rutte.
He admitted that Poland is an important element of NATO's infrastructure. He mentioned, among others: the NATO Eastern Command and the air patrol base in Malbork are located here.
“Ukraine's security is our security, which Poland knows perfectly well“
Rutte also appreciated that Poland provides basic support to Ukraine. – Ukraine's security is our security, which Poland knows perfectly well. Since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion, you have allocated over 4 billion euros in military aid to Ukraine, including over 1 billion euros for the purchase of necessary American equipment, and you have also welcomed so many Ukrainians fleeing the horrors of war, he emphasized.
Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said that Poland is a strong ally in NATO and will fulfill its obligations.
The head of the Ministry of National Defense again confirmed all Poland's obligations under the North Atlantic Treaty and added that he “also counts on solidarity.”
Kosiniak-Kamysz said that they talked with the head of NATO about support for Ukraine and discussions on the peace plan, as well as about Poland acquiring new capabilities. The head of the Ministry of National Defense informed the Secretary General of NATO, among others: about the commenced acquisition of Swedish submarines for the Polish Navy.
He recalled that pursuant to the arrangements of the NATO summit in 2016 in Warsaw, the Alliance deployed its “forward forces” in Poland and on its eastern flank.
– Bemowo Piskie is one of the places where the battle group of advanced land forces operates as part of the North-East Division, which we have the honor to host in Poland. We will meet with the soldiers. American, British, Romanian, Croatian and Polish soldiers exercise, train and integrate their skills here. Five nations, five nations, five different types of armed forces united within a common alliance, the largest defense alliance, which is the North Atlantic Alliance – said the head of the Ministry of National Defense.
As he added, “a very important topic is the development of infrastructure not only for military use, but dual-use, i.e. the double use of railway and road infrastructure, as well as pipelines, which should be expanded as soon as possible in eastern Germany, Poland, up to the Baltic countries or south to the Czech Republic.”
The Secretary General of NATO was asked by journalists whether he could imagine that NATO allied countries would provide a security guarantee to Ukraine along the lines of Article 5 and that this would happen without Russia's consent.
– Putin must realize that after the peace agreement, if he attacks Ukraine again, the reactions will be disastrous. And that's how we design these guarantees, Rutte said. (PAP)
ali/ jwo/ rbk/ mhr/
