- First of all, I would like to thank the President that today he took part in the summary of the Defender Europe 20 Plus exercise. An exercise that was a challenge and which proved the great capabilities and skills of the Polish and US soldiers. It was a challenge when it came to deployment of troops from the US to Europe and then to Poland. It was a logistical challenge, which turned out to be an excellently passed exam - said Mariusz Błaszczak, Minister of National Defence during a meeting with Polish and US soldiers.

- There are no tasks that Polish and US soldiers would not be able to perform. Even the epidemic didn't stop them. I am very grateful that US forces stayed during the epidemic here at the training area in Drawsko Pomorskie, and that Polish soldiers together with US soldiers could improve their skills - said Mariusz Błaszczak, the Minister of National Defence during a meeting with soldiers in Drawsko Pomorskie.

Minister Mariusz Błaszczak participates in the meeting of the North Atlantic Council, which on 17 and 18 June 2020 is chaired by NATO Secretary General Jens Stolteneberg.

- We have just had the opportunity to admire Polish and US soldiers who raise their skills shoulder to shoulder, practicing here at the training ground in Drawsko Pomorskie, which is proof of very close Polish-US cooperation - said Mariusz Błaszczak, Minister of National Defence during his visit to the military training area in Drawsko Pomorskie, Poland.

The COVID-19 pandemic that has hit the whole world became a serious challenge not only for civil services, which usually have the responsibility of providing health security for society. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the Polish Armed Forces have been supporting the civil services in combating the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The assistance of the Polish Armed Forces is multidimensional. Every day, 9,000 soldiers carry out anti-epidemic tasks and support civil administration in many different areas - this is measurable help in fight against COVID-19.

A modified exercise DEFENDER-Europe 20 Plus will be conducted from 5 to 19 June. In total, around 6,000 soldiers, 100 tanks and over 230 combat vehicles will train at the Drawsko Pomorskie training area.

- Currently, our most urgent challenge is the COVID-19 pandemic. NATO's activity in this area is an opportunity to highlight the coherence and value of transatlantic ties. It is very encouraging that the number of examples of assistance among allies is increasing - said Mariusz Błaszczak, the Minister of National Defence during a video conference of NATO defence ministers.

In response to the current outbreak of the COVID-19 virus and recent guidance by the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Defense, the US Command in Europe has decided to modify the DEFENDER-Europe 20 exercise.

- The largest exercises in 25 years in terms of the scale of exercises, carried out in Poland, have just started. Exercises in which the US forces train together with the forces of the North Atlantic Alliance, and above all with the Polish Armed Forces - said Mariusz Błaszczak, the Minister of National Defence at the military training ground in Drawsko Pomorskie.

On Friday, February the 28th, first two wheeled columns of soldiers and equipment from the US will enter Poland through the Kołbaskowo border crossing. This is the official start of the DEFENDER-Europe 20 exercise in our country.