On Sunday, Kosiniak-Kamysz visited the Polish military contingent stationed at Incirlik air base, near the city of Adana in southern Turkey.
Polish forces have been deployed in Turkey as part of a NATO mission since 2021, initially operating manned patrol aircraft.
Since October this year, they have been carrying out surveillance operations over the eastern Mediterranean and parts of the Black Sea region using Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 drones.
The unmanned systems can remain airborne for more than 20 hours in favourable conditions.
Around 75 Polish soldiers from the 12th Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Base and the 10th Logistics Brigade are currently stationed at Incirlik.
Speaking during the visit, the defence minister reaffirmed Poland’s commitment to NATO, including its obligations under Article 5 of the alliance’s founding treaty, which treats an attack on one member as an attack on all.
"Poland will fulfil all its allied commitments, including Article 5," Kosiniak-Kamysz said.
"If necessary, we will support those whose security, sovereignty and independence are under threat, while expecting the same solidarity from NATO should Poland ever need assistance."
He also stressed that every Polish military deployment abroad plays an important role in strengthening collective security, and thanked Turkey for its support to Poland during floods last year, noting that Ankara had been among the first allies to offer help.
During the visit, the minister extended Christmas greetings to the troops and took part in a symbolic pre-holiday gathering.
On Monday, Kosiniak-Kamysz is due to meet his Turkish counterpart, Yaşar Güler, for talks focused on regional security and defence.
The two sides are expected to sign an agreement on bilateral cooperation.
A delegation of Polish defence companies has also travelled to Turkey to hold parallel talks with Turkish firms, underlining Warsaw’s interest in closer industrial ties with Ankara.
(ał)
Source: PAP, IAR