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Poland, Lithuania reaffirm NATO commitment at joint military exercises near Russian enclave

07.05.2026 12:00
Polish President Karol Nawrocki visited Lithuania on Wednesday to observe joint military exercises near Russia's Kaliningrad exclave, reaffirming both countries' shared commitment to NATO and regional defense.
Polish President Karol Nawrocki (R) and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda (C) attend the Brave Griffin 26-II military exercises near the town of Akmenynai, Lithuania, 06 May 2026. The exercises are designed to test the defenses of the Suwalki Gap, a strategic corridor linking the Baltic states with their NATO allies. Lithuanian and Polish troo
Polish President Karol Nawrocki (R) and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda (C) attend the 'Brave Griffin 26-II' military exercises near the town of Akmenynai, Lithuania, 06 May 2026. The exercises are designed to test the defenses of the Suwalki Gap, a strategic corridor linking the Baltic states with their NATO allies. Lithuanian and Polish trooEPA/VALDA KALNINA

The "Brave Griffin 26-II" drills, running April 30 to May 7 near the village of Kamień close to the Polish border, involved 350 personnel including 70 soldiers from Poland's 17th Greater Poland Mechanized Brigade, as well as troops from the United States and Portugal. Tasks included long-distance movement, drone reconnaissance and strikes, and infantry assault operations.

Nawrocki, observing alongside Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda, said the two countries were united by their pursuit of military modernization, interoperability and dual-use infrastructure, as well as their commitment to NATO obligations. "All of this with a view to a secure Poland, a secure Lithuania, secure Baltic states and a secure Europe", he said.

He noted their talks covered plans to expand the Bucharest Nine format and the development of a joint border fortification system, adding that both countries set an example by allocating a high share of GDP to defense.

Nausėda described Poland and Lithuania as strategic partners bound by shared history and a common response to contemporary geopolitical threats. "Our shared history and struggle for freedom mean that in these demanding times, Lithuania and Poland can count on each other", he said.

(jh)

Source: PAP