Poland and UK step up NATO’s eastern border defenses

At a meeting held at the level of defense ministries of the United Kingdom and Poland on March 13, it was decided to continue the existence of the British Sky Saber air defense systems deployed in Poland after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The Polish Minister of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak – Kamysz and his British counterpart Grant Shapps had a meeting at the Land Forces Training Area in Orzysz on March 13. The main topics of the meeting were continuation of the deployment of Sky Saber air defense systems in Poland and the development of military strategic cooperation.

“I would like to thank Poland for its extraordinary support and security. This anti-air and anti-missile system is an important issue. The security of NATO’s eastern flank is very important to us. We cannot do it alone. We are counting on our allies and Great Britain is a staunch ally of Poland. The minister declared that the anti-air and anti-missile Sky Sabre system will stay in Poland for longer. A decision has been reached to keep it in Poland until the end of the year,” said Kosiniak-Kamysz.

After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the decision was made to place Sky Saber air defense systems in Poland. Sky Saber provides defense against unmanned aerial vehicles, planes, and rockets.

Ministers also visited Polish and British soldiers training in the “Dragon 24” exercise organized within the scope of NATO Steadfast Defender exercises. As underlined by Kosiniak-Kamysz, 15,000 Polish soldiers, as well as approximately 20,000 soldiers from 10 NATO countries, are participating in “Dragon 24” and 3,500 units of equipment are used.

“We are in the middle of the Polish exercise ‘Dragon 24,’ which is part of NATO’s ‘Steadfast Defender.’ British soldiers are participating in it. Those exercises are strengthening our combat capabilities and the cooperation between our countries,” added Kosiniak-Kamysz.

Discussions and evaluations on Russia’s Ukrainian War, support for Ukraine, and the security of NATO’s eastern border also took place.

“We talked about our support for Ukraine. This is a fundamental issue and we need to act quickly. We should not only talk in multiple formats, which is important as well, but also provide the ammunition Ukraine needs. I thank Great Britain for joining the armored capabilities coalition,” noted Kosiniak-Kamysz.