Another in a series of debates on the achievements of Poland’s foreign policy in 2015-2019 was organised at the 32nd Tactical Air Base in Łask by the Regional Centre for International Debate (RCID) in Łódź.

Assessing Poland’s current security environment Minister Czaputowicz observed that for a long time it has drifted towards destabilisation. As examples, he mentioned the Russian-Georgian war in 2008, the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014, and the conflict in eastern Ukraine. “Against such adverse developments, Polish diplomacy over the past four years has sought to strengthen defence cooperation with the US, notably by increasing the American military presence at home and across the entire eastern flank of the Alliance,” argued Minister Czaputowicz.

In this context, the minister mentioned the Joint Declaration on Defense Cooperation signed by the Polish and US presidents on 12 June, in which they agreed the permanent US force presence in Poland. “It marks a qualitative and historic change and reaffirms the strategic partnership between Warsaw and Washington,” said Minister Czaputowicz.

Speaking about the US military involvement in Poland, Minister Czaputowicz also pointed to the transfer of military technology, particularly in the field of missile technology and aircraft. In this context, he mentioned a Polish-American agreement for the purchase of the Patriot missile system, a contract for the delivery of launchers for the HOMAR programme, and talks with the United States on the acquisition of the multirole F-35A planes.

The foreign minister also recalled the missions that Polish troops are involved in, underlining that Poland does not turn its back on the needs of other countries. “I would like to stress that you need to invest in your own security in parallel to creating military bilateral and multilateral partnerships,” he added. He underlined the increased defence spending of recent years, which has risen to 2% of GDP (of which over 20% is earmarked for arms purchases), as well as the planned further increase in the military budget to 2.5 % of GDP by 2030.

Debates on the achievements of Poland’s foreign policy in 2015-2019 were also held in Ostróda and Trzebnica. Service for the benefit of the citizens in the context of Polish diaspora and consular affairs was the central theme of the meeting organised by the Olsztyn-based RCID. The debate in Trzebnica in Lower Silesia covered the support for Polish innovations received from the Polish government and the European Union as well as the projects completed through effective cooperation between Poland’s diplomacy, academia, and business.

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The goal and main area of the RCID network’s activities is to bring the priorities of Poland’s foreign policy closer to the citizens and to strengthen the channels of cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, local governments, and non-governmental organisations. 

 

MFA Press Office

Photo: Sebastian Indra / MFA