Polish President Karol Nawrocki warns Russia poses a real threat to Europe and will test NATO’s cohesion with sub-war incidents.
Russia as a Real Threat
On Wednesday, February 25, President Karol Nawrocki participated in a briefing of the Ministry of National Defense leadership. He stated that today’s security environment clearly indicates Russia continues to pose a real threat to the world and Europe.
According to Nawrocki, Russia is striving to subordinate other countries to its interests, impose its anti-values, and destabilize the international order. He emphasized that Russia “ruthlessly seeks to rebuild and expand its sphere of influence at the expense of its neighbors.”
Imperial Ambitions and NATO
The President noted that the war in Ukraine is not just a regional incident but a means for Russia to pursue its long-term interests, potentially generating negative consequences for Poland and Europe for decades.
Nawrocki highlighted that Russia perceives NATO as its “main enemy in the civilizational war it is waging with the West.” He added that Moscow is trying to undermine Article 5 of NATO by testing alliance cohesion through incidents below the threshold of war.
Defense of Polish Territory
Nawrocki stated that military plans must provide for the defense of “every part of the territory of the Republic of Poland.” He proposed creating new military units east of the Vistula River and called for continued cooperation to develop solutions preventing surprise aggression from Russia.
The President emphasized that Poland needs technologically advanced armed forces to counter Russia’s ongoing hybrid operations.
SAFE Program Concerns
Nawrocki discussed the SAFE program, which provides financial support for defense industry investments. He acknowledged the need for significant funding but raised concerns about sovereignty aspects and conditionalities.
“The basic principle of building security is certainty,” Nawrocki stated. “We must be certain that these funds will not be withheld or suspended. Certainty is security, uncertainty is insecurity.”