Poland is becoming one of NATO’s top Alliance members, an unquestionable leader on the eastern wall of the Alliance, Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces General Wiesław Kukuła said during an interview with the Polish Press Agency (PAP) on the occasion of the upcoming 25th anniversary of the country’s NATO membership.
The general assessed that despite various political turbulences, the Alliance is the best answer to modern security threats. “Our position in NATO, developed over 25 years, the ability to anticipate threats and respond to them, sets standards that many countries are studying carefully. This gives a good chance for the future of the Alliance to be forged also in Poland,” he added.
EU defense commissionerNATO Allies demonstrate strengthened deterrence and defence during Polish-led exercise.
— NATO (@NATO) March 7, 2024
Troops from 🇫🇷 🇩🇪 🇮🇹 🇵🇱 🇸🇮 🇹🇷 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 conducted a crossing of the Vistula river near Korzeniewo#SteadfastDefender24
Gen. Kukuła also referred to the issue of the possible appointment of an EU defense commissioner. He assessed that this idea “makes sense”, adding that a person in such a position could focus on managing the Union’s defense policy and synchronizing its activities with other processes carried out in the organization.
He stressed that the EU and NATO have much in common. “Twenty-three countries belong to both organizations. Among them is Poland, which will put a Battle Group at the Union’s disposal in 2024 and 2025. Poland is also home to an important component of the Union’s training mission for Ukraine. Thousands of Ukrainian soldiers have already been trained at CAT-C funded by the Union’s EUMAM program,” Kukuła noted.
The Chief of General Staff also referred to the recent accession of the 32nd member, Sweden, to the North Atlantic Alliance, which is scheduled to be finalized on Monday. As he assessed, the country was the “missing piece of the puzzle” when it came to the strategic and security situation in the Baltic region.
Strength in numbers
“Sweden, from a technical point of view, had long been prepared for the NATO integration process. It is a country that has successfully implemented a total defense strategy. Sweden also has very well-equipped armed forces and a resilient society,” he said.
Gen. Kukula assessed that the Nordic country will, of course, be a security recipient, but at the same time “will strongly strengthen the Alliance.” He added that Poland’s security cooperation with Sweden has been going on for many years and “has always been very fruitful.”
The 25th anniversary of Poland’s accession to NATO will take place on Tuesday. On March 12, 1999, Foreign Minister Bronisław Geremek handed U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright the act of Poland’s accession to the North Atlantic Treaty, which formally completed Poland’s accession to the Alliance.Today, I am honored to welcome Sweden as NATO’s 32nd Ally.
— President Biden (@POTUS) March 7, 2024
75 years ago when NATO was established, President Truman said the Alliance, “would create a shield against aggression and fear of aggression.”
That shield – and transatlantic security – is stronger than ever. pic.twitter.com/0ySHg8dvQy
Since then, Poland has been covered by security guarantees under, among other things, Article 5 of the Treaty, and is also obliged, among other things, to continuously maintain and develop its own defense capabilities and assist other allies.
