In an interview with VOA Eastern Europe bureau chief Myroslava Gongadze, Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamiz laid out his country’s plans to deal with feared Russian aggression, such as potential missile infiltration and conflict on its borders.
The plans range from strengthening air defenses to building a $2.1 billion “East Shield,” he said Tuesday.
“Polish F-16s are ready to respond if there is a missile threat to our territory,” he said, confirming the military’s increased readiness amid the war in Ukraine. Kośniak-Kamysz stressed the urgency for European countries to step up their defense and warned that NATO unity is vital to maintaining U.S. forces in Europe.
The war in Ukraine shows no signs of abating, with Poland taking the lead in Europe, spending more on defense than any other NATO member and urging others to do the same.
This interview, translated from Polish, has been edited for brevity and clarity.
VOA: You are buying a lot of equipment from the United States. How do you assess this collaboration and what are you expecting?
Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamisz: Our cooperation is truly at the best possible level. I have concluded several contracts worth dozens of billions of dollars, including the purchase of 26 Apache aircraft. Poland would have one of the best equipped armies with attack aircraft, the Apache. We are talking about strategic partnership and I think we are meeting with the President [-elect Donald] Trump’s expectations. We are spending a lot on arms and we have good trade relations. We are buying a lot of equipment in America, it is a guarantee of security, and it is also an investment in American production.
VOA: How do you assess the Russian threat today, and who are Poland’s main rivals?
Kosiniak-Kamisz: Russia is the biggest threat since the end of World War II. Many have said that since the end of World War II, but today, it is not the Cold War. There is an active war going on just beyond our borders. We have crises before us – conflicts in the Near East. We have a conflict situation in the Pacific region and the recent developments in Syria have completely changed the position of Russia, Iran and other countries. Therefore, we are living in very difficult times. Poland is spending 4.7% of its GDP – the largest amount among NATO member states on defense – on arms. Why are we spending that money? Because the situation is very difficult. The threat from Russia is realistic. Ukrainian citizens are experiencing this every day.
VOA: How important is it to invest in defence, and how would you encourage others to invest more in defence?
Kosiniak-Kamisz: Two percent is not enough. This is the absolute minimum. I believe that NATO countries have committed to 2% of GDP, and those that do not meet it will not even be invited to the table with the new Trump administration. …So, all countries have to fulfill their obligations. …Europe should do more for security, not to replace Americans in Europe, but to keep them in Europe. If we don’t spend more on security, if other countries don’t follow Poland’s example, we won’t be able to keep Americans in Europe.
The EU has created a program for defense development, but has allocated only 1.5 billion euros ($1.55 billion). This is just symbolic. Where do North Korea, Russia and Iran have the capability to produce war material? Europe, as well as the Western world, the US, Canada and our allies do not have those capabilities. We have to compensate for this. 100 billion euros ($103 billion) – that would be the money we should be talking about.
VOA: So are you saying that Europe is not ready to fight an active war today?
Kosiniak-Kamisz: We are ready – we have to be ready every day. But Europe must be better prepared every day. Therefore, it is not enough to say that we are ready and do nothing. A lot has happened in Ukraine since the war broke out. But it is still not enough to say that it is at its best. We have to be ready to fight day and night, at all times, with every state. We are ready for that. But every day, we can be better prepared, so we are putting pressure on other countries. Hence building a resilient society. This is something that Western societies do not have today. ,
We have already been attacked with lies, fake news, misinformation. And it doesn’t matter if you live next to the border with the Kaliningrad region, here in Poland near the Belarusian border, or [if] You live in Portugal, Quebec or wherever today. You are being attacked. Russia has already attacked you.
VOA: Poland has experienced penetration of Belarusian helicopters into its airspace. A Russian missile violated Polish airspace during the attack on Ukraine. Is Poland ready to do something about this?
Kosiniak-Kamisz: The situation of violation of Poland’s airspace also affects Latvia, often affects Romania with UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles), and we have prepared air defense systems. We have also increased air defence. We are talking about Rzeszow airport, which is being handed over almost under NATO protection. Our allies – America, Britain, Germany, Norway and other countries – are protecting us at the air bases. And if that airspace is violated, the target missile or drone can be shot down [down]…but when it comes to firing at targets over Ukrainian territory it is a different situation. NATO has no decision on that situation, or any consensus on doing so. We are protecting our territories.
VOA: Are you saying that if a rocket intrudes into Polish airspace, you are ready to shoot it down?
Kosiniak-Kamisz: Very often, we activate our F-16s to defend our territory if there is a threat on Polish territory.
VOA: But it hasn’t happened yet?
Kosiniak-Kamisz: No, because there has been no incident where the missile would be aimed at a target on Polish territory. But yes, last week Polish F-16s took off and were ready to protect the border.
VOA: There are discussions going on about the defense line you are building on the eastern border, called “East Shield”. What are the plans for him for the next year or two?
Kosiniak-Kamisz: This is a preparation for a conflict situation on the Polish-Russian, Polish-Belarusian borders. We are creating obstacles that will complicate the movement of enemy troops. We are also building warehouses for artillery and other means of defence. We are creating space for the protection of manpower. ….It should be connected with the Baltic Defense Line, [and] Strengthening the Russian-Finnish border. Besides, we are increasing security against illegal immigrants.
VOA: French President Emmanuel Macron visited Poland last week and hinted at the idea of Polish and French military personnel going to Ukraine as a security guarantee if a peace deal is signed. Poland announced that it was not planning to do so. Why?
Kosiniak-Kamisz: We have not yet seen any peace plan from President Trump. There are many reports in the press about this or that outcome following the example of Finland or the example of Germany, but these are all speculations. We exclude the possibility of Polish troops being on the territory of Ukraine. We believe that such decisions should not be taken by a group of countries, but NATO should have an important role in this decision. When that stage comes, we will consider further steps. At this stage, as you said, we have no plans to send troops to Ukraine.
VOA: So, if NATO takes this decision, are you ready for it?
Kosiniak-Kamisz: Well, we will see. I will not make any announcement here. I’m just saying that until the peace process is finalized, we are not planning to deploy any troops to Ukraine, and that is not possible without Ukraine at the table.