Starting from next month, Poland will be tripling its military presence along its border with Belarus, according to Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz. This increase comes amid allegations that Russia and Belarus are sending thousands of African and Asian migrants into the European Union nation in an attempt to destabilize it.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Kosiniak-Kamysz announced that a new mission involving up to 17,000 soldiers will commence on August 1. Currently, there are approximately 6,000 soldiers stationed along the border with Belarus, according to the minister.
In 2021, Warsaw deployed regular army soldiers to reinforce the Border Guard, accusing Russia and Belarus of waging a “hybrid war” by allegedly funneling migrants into Poland. However, Minsk has denied these accusations. Yuri Ambrazevich, the deputy head of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry, stated that Warsaw had completely abandoned cooperation on managing the situation at the border, adding that joint efforts would effectively combat illegal migration into the EU and the criminals who benefit from it.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has accused Polish authorities of deliberately seeking a confrontation with Minsk, asserting that the situation around Belarus is being constantly escalated. In response to these allegations, Polish media cited Foreign Ministry spokesman Pawel Wronski as saying on Thursday that Warsaw was expecting Minsk to take the first step in resolving the situation and initiating a negotiation process. Additionally, Wronski highlighted that the flow of migrants has diminished recently.
While Belarus is not directly involved in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, it has allowed Moscow to use its territory for advancing towards Kiev during the early stages of Russia’s military operation. Poland remains one of the most vocal supporters of Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia. The country serves as NATO’s primary conduit for weapons, ammunition, and equipment deliveries to Kiev, while maintaining that it is not a party to the hostilities.