Poland plans to deploy 10,000 additional soldiers to Belarus border

Europe, News August 12, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

Poland is planning to deploy up to 10,000 additional soldiers to the Belarus border to support the border guard forces amid growing threats from Russia’s Wagner mercenaries in Belarus.

Poland‘s Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said in an interview on August 10, 2023, “About 10,000 soldiers will be on the border, of which 4,000 will directly support the Border Guard and 6,000 will be in the reserve.”

“We move the army closer to the border with Belarus to scare away the aggressor so that it does not dare to attack us,” the Polish defense minister added.

The move comes as Belarus is conducting military exercises near the border with Poland. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has repeatedly stated that he was restraining Wagner mercenaries who want to attack Poland. Russia’s Wagner group fighters arrived in Belarus last month at the invitation of the Belarusian president.

Poland is also increasingly concerned about the border crossing issue. Deputy Interior Minister Maciej Wasik also said on August 8, that Poland is planning to send 2,000 additional troops to its border with Belarus to tackle illegal crossings and maintain stability.

The head of Poland’s Border Guard force, Tomasz Praga said earlier this week, about 19,000 undocumented people have attempted to cross the Polish-Belarusian border this year, which is far more than last year about 16,000.

Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said that about 100 Wagner fighters had been moving towards Grodno city in the north-west of Belarus near the Polish border, and described the situation as “increasingly dangerous”. He warned that Wagner mercenaries could enter Poland through Belarus posing as migrants, or pose as Belarusian border guards and help more illegal migrants to cross the border.

*^{Polish Army soldiers are seen in front of the Border Guard headquarters in Michalowo, Poland, on October 11, 2021. (Image Credit: Reuters/Kacper Pempel)}*

Poland shares a large border with Russia’s ally Belarus and the country is bolstering its arsenal with active procurement of conventional weapons. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Warsaw has ramped up its military acquisitions while supplying crucial weapons to Ukraine for its defense. Poland has also signed multi-billion dollars deals with the U.S., South Korea, and other countries to acquire new tanks, missiles, and fighter jets.

Poland has been one of the most vocal supporters of Ukraine. The European country has also created a tank coalition and actively participating in arranging fighter jets for Ukraine. Poland has also provided Ukraine with missiles, drones, tanks, ammunition, and humanitarian aid, as well as called for additional international sanctions against Russia.

Last month Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki also expressed interest to join NATO’s nuclear weapons sharing program and host nuclear weapons after Russia deployed its tactical nuclear weapons in neighboring Belarus.

Earlier on June 28, 2023, during his visit to Kyiv, President of Poland Andrzej Duda blamed Russian President Putin for changing the security architecture in Europe by deploying tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus. He also said that “A group of experienced and well-trained soldiers, and certainly the soldiers of the Wagner Group, always pose some potential danger. None of us really knows the purpose of these soldiers [who are stationed in Belarus].”