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Polish FM in London highlights Warsaw's role in ensuring security in Europe

24.05.2024 10:00
During a visit to London, Poland's top diplomat has highlighted his country's role in ensuring security in Europe, stressing Warsaw's expenditure on defence and military modernisation and its support of Kyiv against Moscow's invasion.
Polands Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski speaks to reporters during a visit to London on Thursday, May 23, 2024.
Poland's Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski speaks to reporters during a visit to London on Thursday, May 23, 2024.Photo: Sebastian Indra/MSZ

Radosław Sikorski made the remarks in a speech at an international defence conference in the British capital on Thursday.

In his speech at the London Defence Conference, Sikorski said that "Poland’s security policy rests on two complementary pillars: the decisive role of NATO with strong US leadership and the ever stronger European Union."

He emphasised that Ukraine’s fighting soldiers were buying Europe time to rebuild its own deterrence, while Poland contributes to ensuring security in Europe with its expenditure on defence and military modernisation and by supporting Ukraine, according to the Polish foreign ministry.

Sikorski advocated for the broadest possible inclusion of the United Kingdom in Europe’s security structures and the EU’s defence initiatives.

He also supported investments made jointly with the UK to build deterrence capabilities needed to counter disinformation as well as hybrid and cyber threats, the Polish foreign ministry said.

The London Defence Conference is an annual geopolitical and security gathering of policymakers, academic experts, industry and media.

Held in partnership with King’s College London, this year’s conference took place from May 21 to 23.

The main theme was "Deterrence," featuring leaders, policymakers, military, academia and industry discussing how to strengthen defence and security in an increasingly dangerous global environment, according to organisers.

While in London on Thursday, Sikorski also met with his British counterpart David Cameron to discuss cooperation between Poland and the UK, bilateral relations, preparations for the upcoming NATO summit, and support for Ukraine, the Polish foreign ministry said.

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Source: IAR, PAP, gov.pllondondefenceconference.com