Safe Baltic Sea. This is how they will protect the Baltic Pipe. There is the president's signature

Ashley Davis2 weeks ago

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Act prepared by the Ministry of National Defense and signed by Karol Nawrocki expands, among others powers of the Polish Navy at sea, e.g. to protect critical infrastructure, including the Baltic Pipe gas pipeline or drilling platforms. It also introduces changes regarding sending Navy ships to international waters.

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This is the Act amending certain acts in order to improve the activities of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland in the event of a threat to state security in Polish maritime areas and ensuring security in the Baltic Sea – called the Act on a Safe Baltic Sea in the Ministry of National Defense. The Act will enter into force 14 days after its publication in the Journal of Laws.

These include tasks related to anti-aircraft defense and monitoring of Polish territorial waters in the Baltic Sea, as well as international waters, primarily in the protection of critical infrastructure that is key to the security.

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See also: This is what the Baltic Sea defense system looks like. Like a mediocre student

Rocket in Wyryki. Who is responsible for the damage?

On the legislative path, an amendment was introduced to the act regarding the liability of the Ministry of National Defense for damage caused during various types of operations of Polish and allied armed forces in the country – including: about events such as the destruction of a house in Wyryki in the province by a stray rocket. Lublin during the September incursion of Russian drones into Polish airspace.

See also: Not a Russian drone, but a Polish missile? Unofficial information about a hit on a house in Wyryki

“For damage caused to a third party as a result of the application of measures aimed at neutralizing a foreign military aircraft, a foreign civil aircraft, missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles violating the airspace of the Republic of Poland by the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland or the armed forces of a country of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization performing tasks of airspace surveillance and protection of the territory of the Republic of Poland “The State Treasury represented by the Minister of National Defense is responsible” – we read in the act.

Safe Baltic Sea. Operations at sea

When it comes to activities at sea, the key provision introduced by the act is the possibility use of weapons by military units of the Navy and air force in the defense of critical infrastructurein self-defense or in defense of another aircraft or ship belonging to the Polish Army, Border Guard or Police.

In a crisis situation, the order to open fire may be given by the commander of a given ship or aircraft, with prior consent to such action from the Operational Commander.

Activities of the Polish Armed Forces outside Poland

The Act extends the catalog included in the Act on the Rules of Use or Stay of the Polish Armed Forces Outside the State. In the catalog of reasons for using the army abroad, there was – apart from tasks such as supporting attacked allies, participating in a peacekeeping mission or combating terrorism – a provision on the possibility of using the army abroad in “actions to strengthen the security of the Republic of Poland”.

This provision, as indicated by experts from the Ministry of National Defense and the Operational Command of the Armed Forces, is crucial primarily for the Navy so that its units can effectively monitor international waters in the Baltic Sea.

Polish ships in international waters without the president's signature

Navy ships will be able to be sent to international waters pursuant to the decision of the Ministry of National Defense itself, without the participation of the head of state. According to the currently applicable regulations, when a Polish ship is sent on a foreign mission – e.g. to participate in NATO naval teams – the president issues a decision on this matter.

Representatives of the opposition and the National Security Bureau emphasized during work on the bill that sending ships to Baltic international waters should be subject to the consent of the President of the Republic of Poland.

Enemy missiles in Polish airspace

The act also includes provisions specifying the rules for the use of weapons against enemy missiles that would enter Polish airspace.

This includes: to introduce a provision allowing lower-level commanders to decide to shoot down an incoming enemy missilewhen such an order cannot be issued by the air defense commander on duty or, for example, he cannot be contacted.

Additional powers for the Navy

The Act applies to the activities of the Polish Armed Forces and, to some extent, the Border Guard and Police.

One of the important changes it introduces is to give Navy units powers – e.g. to control foreign ships – such as those currently available to the Border Guard, “if required for reasons of national defense or security or in the case of the passage of foreign ships and warships.”