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NATO defence ministers reaffirm alliance unity, Polish deputy PM says

12.02.2026 18:30
NATO defence ministers meeting in Brussels on Thursday reaffirmed the unity of the transatlantic alliance, Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said.
Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz (right) attends a meeting of NATO defence ministers in Brussels on Thursday, February 12, 2026.
Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz (right) attends a meeting of NATO defence ministers in Brussels on Thursday, February 12, 2026.Photo: Poland's Ministry of Defence

Kosiniak-Kamysz told reporters he had held bilateral talks with the defence ministers of Britain, France, Germany and Sweden.

The meeting was also attended by US Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby, who separately met with the Polish minister.

Kosiniak-Kamysz said the talks took place in a "very different atmosphere" than a year ago, when, following President Donald Trump’s reelection, US officials pressed European allies to radically increase defence spending.

According to Kosiniak-Kamysz, Colby assured allies they would “never walk alone.”

Poland, France, Germany and Sweden signed a letter of intent on the joint purchase of long-range precision strike capabilities with a range of more than 500 kilometres, Kosiniak-Kamysz said.

He described the project as one of two key priorities for NATO and Poland, the other being drone and counter-drone systems.

“These are the two key elements in the strategy of defence and deterrence,” he said, adding that he briefed his counterparts on Poland’s new San counter-drone programme.

Thursday's meeting also discussed NATO’s new mission in the Far North, known as Arctic Sentry, and allies were invited to consider participating, Kosiniak-Kamysz said.

Asked whether Poland would join, he said the matter would be submitted for discussion by the government and representatives of the president at the next meeting of the defence ministry’s security committee.

Arctic Sentry is intended to consolidate NATO activities in the Arctic under a single operational framework. The mission will be overseen by the Joint Force Command in Norfolk, Virginia.

Among upcoming alliance activities in the region is the Norway-led Cold Response exercise, which will involve forces from across NATO.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte told reporters on Thursday that the alliance would stand with Ukraine "for as long as it takes."

He said NATO allies were "working diligently every day to ensure that security guarantees are as strong as possible" following a ceasefire "or, even better," a peace deal.

(pm/gs)

Source: PAP, NATO