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PM hails Poland's role in providing European security

10.05.2023 13:00
Poland is not only a recipient but also a provider of security as it presses ahead with efforts to build one of the strongest armies in Europe, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki speaks during a visit to US Army Garrison Poland in the western city of Poznań on Wednesday, May 10, 2023.
Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki speaks during a visit to US Army Garrison Poland in the western city of Poznań on Wednesday, May 10, 2023.Photo: PAP/Jakub Kaczmarczyk

He was speaking during a visit to a permanent US Army garrison in Poland at Camp Kościuszko in the western city of Poznań.

"In cooperation with the United States, Poland is not only a recipient of security but also its supplier," Morawiecki said, as quoted by his office.

He declared that Poland was building "one of the strongest land armies in Europe" and was "ready to allocate up to 4 percent of GDP" to expand its armed forces.

Morawiecki told a news conference that Russia's aggression in Ukraine "has created new threats on NATO's eastern flank" and that Poland and its allies were "fighting together to restore stability."

"I thank our allies for keeping their word," Morawiecki said.

Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak said in March that the new permanent US Army headquarters in Poland would help enhance the security of his country and the entire eastern flank of NATO in the wake of Russia's invasion of neighbouring Ukraine.

US President Joe Biden pledged in June last year that the United States would boost its military presence in Europe and create a permanent headquarters for its Army V Corps in Poland in response to threats coming from Moscow after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Russia invaded Ukraine by land, air and sea on February 24, 2022, launching the largest military campaign in Europe since World War II.

Wednesday is day 441 of Russia's war on Ukraine.

(gs)

Source: IAR, PAP