Poland to strengthen military forces in east of country to improve security on border with Ukraine 2

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Defence & Security News - Poland
 
 
Monday, October 27, 2014 09:08 PM
 
Poland to strengthen military forces in east of country to improve security on border with Ukraine.
Poland’s defense ministry said Monday, October 27, 2014, it plans to gradually strengthen military forces located in the country’s east over the coming years to improve security in the face of the separatist conflict in neighboring Ukraine. Poland supports Kiev in its conflict with pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine and has called for stronger Western sanctions against Russia amid the conflict.
     
Poland’s defense ministry said Monday, October 27, 2014, it plans to gradually strengthen military forces located in the country’s east over the coming years to improve security in the face of the separatist conflict in neighboring Ukraine. Poland supports Kiev in its conflict with pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine and has called for stronger Western sanctions against Russia amid the conflict.
Polish Defense Minister Tomasz Siemoniak
     

Poland’s repositioning of military might eastward is a long-term plan, defense ministry spokesman Jacek Sonta said. “We are talking about a multiyear, gradual plan of strengthening these forces, not a quick relocation,” Mr. Sonta said. “It is difficult to give specific time frame and numbers.”

Last week, Polish Defense Minister Tomasz Siemoniak told military personnel at an air-defense base in Siedlce, eastern Poland, that their unit will be strengthened under the new plan.

Most of Poland’s army has been concentrated in the western part of the country as the country has not realigned its military structure since it was part of the Soviet bloc.

Warsaw plans to invest in the army’s modernization, particularly in the eastern part of the country, adding that the ministry has planned buying new hardware in 2016, Siemoniak said on October 23 while visiting the Siedlce military base located in eastern Poland, Polskie Radio reported.

In April, NATO-member Poland asked the military organization to permanently station 10,000 troops near the country’s eastern border amid claims that Russia amassed troops on Ukrainian border. NATO has not directly responded to Poland’s request.

Now former NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen confirmed in August that the alliance is planning to permanently deploy forces under its flag in Eastern Europe. However some NATO members, including Germany, have expressed reservations over the plans as they do not see the point of provoking tensions with Moscow.