- It is a great honour for me to see our friend, the Minister of Defence of Canada David McGuinty, arrive in Poland today as a guest of honour of the International Defence Industry Exhibition – a great event, one of the largest defence industry exhibitions in Europe. This year, Canada is a lead partner of the Exhibition in Kielce. Canada is our ally. Canada is our friend. We have ties with Canada going back many years, when they supported our accession to NATO as one of the first nations. They have done so very quickly, and we are very thankful for that. We have also cooperated for many years, increasing our defence capabilities. Our Armed Forces also work together in Latvia, where Canada is the largest contributor, committing about two thousand troops. The Polish contingent is present there as well as one of the lead contributors, securing the Alliance’s eastern flank

– said the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz met on 7 September with the Minister of National Defence of Canada David J. McGuinty. The discussed topics included bilateral military cooperation  and the cooperation of defence industries.

- The presence of Canada as an exhibitor, a country presenting its capabilities and skills, its businesses, but also a country that wants to but Polish defence industry products shows how much our position on the international stage has changed in recent months and years. We will organise joint exercises. Polish soldiers will go to Canada and take part in exercises in the Arctic. This is important. Canada, surrounded by three oceans, is a NATO leader in polar capabilities, the ability to operate in these difficult atmospheric conditions. We will learn, we will work together, we will train together. Our soldiers will take part in joint NATO exercises. Transatlantic Polish-Canadian relationship is very important for us. Our relationship within the North Atlantic Alliance and our friendship is proven by our joint missions, operations, training and procurement.
- noted the Deputy Prime Minister W. Kosiniak-Kamysz after the meeting.

During the visit, the Ministers of National Defence signed a Memorandum of Understanding on bilateral defence cooperation between the Republic of Poland and Canada.

- The agreement signed today strengthens defensive relations between Poland and Canada. It is also evidence of the best Polish-Canadian relationship. Our relations have never been so close. The Minister brought two hundred and fifty companies with him that will negotiate with our businesses, but we are also working on making use of the SAFE instrument. Canada was the first country outside of the European Union to join SAFE. We were proponents of this cooperation. I am very happy about that. Not everyone managed to do so. Great Britan could not meet some of the requirements. Canada was able to meet them. The agreement that we have signed today, which we will witness tomorrow, regarding the sale of Polish products to Canada, especially drones, shows that Poland transforms from a country that purchases foreign equipment becomes a producer as well.
- stressed the Polish Minister of National Defence after the signing of the document.