Germany to join Poland’s "East Shield" operation to bolster NATO’s eastern flank

Germany is set to expand its military role in reinforcing NATO’s eastern flank by contributing personnel to Poland’s “East Shield” operation, under agreements reached between Berlin and Warsaw.

Polish Deputy Defence Minister Paweł Zalewski announced the decision after talks with his German counterpart, Nils Schmid, according to the German newspaper BILD. 

The cooperation envisages the involvement of Bundeswehr troops in non-combat tasks focused on strengthening defensive infrastructure near Poland’s borders with Russia’s Kaliningrad region and Belarus.

The German contingent will primarily carry out engineering work, including preparing defensive positions, digging trenches, installing barbed wire, and building anti-tank obstacles in border areas.

According to the report, the practical deployment of these units is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2026 and, under current plans, continue until the end of 2027. The mission is not classified as a combat deployment and therefore does not require a separate mandate from the German parliament.

Germany has already taken steps to support Poland’s defence posture. Since November 2024, German Patriot air defence missile systems have been deployed near the city of Rzeszów, and since December 2025, a German Air Force standby aviation group has been stationed at the Malbork air base. The new phase of cooperation is intended to further enhance defensive capabilities along NATO’s eastern borders.

Poland announced plans to construct fortifications along its borders with Russia and Belarus in May 2024. The “East Shield” program is valued at 10 billion zlotys, or approximately $2.5 billion, with completion targeted for 2028. The project предусматривает the construction of trenches along the eastern frontier, the placement of minefields, the installation of anti-tank hedgehogs, and the creation of an active surveillance system.

Initial construction began along the border with Russia’s Kaliningrad region in early November 2024, and later that month, the Polish government reported the completion of the first section, where 3,500 concrete anti-tank hedgehogs were installed.

By Tamilla Hasanova