Poland to strengthen military presence on border with Belarus, confirms defence minister

Poland has announced plans to bolster its military presence along the border with Belarus, signalling heightened tensions in the region.

Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, the Minister of National Defense, affirmed this decision on March 23, according to Interfax.

"We will strengthen the presence of the Polish army in Podlaskie, Lublin, Warmia-Masuria, and Subcarpathian voivodeships," stated Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz, as quoted by the PAP agency.

These regions, which border Belarus, Ukraine, and Russia's Kaliningrad enclave, are of strategic importance amidst escalating concerns over border security.

Kosiniak-Kamysz emphasized that the Polish Army's role in safeguarding the eastern border, in collaboration with the Border Guard, has been extended for the current year, with allocated funding already in place.

"This will be a permanent presence," affirmed the defence minister, underscoring the long-term commitment of Poland to fortify its border defences.

The decision to augment troop numbers along the border reflects Poland's proactive stance amid a surge in irregular migration from Belarus and broader geopolitical tensions in the region.