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Polish Defence Minister thanks NATO at end of Anakonda

PR dla Zagranicy
Roberto Galea 17.06.2016 11:57
NATO will not allow anyone to violate the borders of the EU, Polish Defence Minister Antoni Macierewicz said at a ceremony marking the end of major international military exercises on Friday.
Polish Defence Minister Antoni Macierewicz addressing NATO troops during the Anakonda exercises. Photo: PAP/Marcin BieleckiPolish Defence Minister Antoni Macierewicz addressing NATO troops during the Anakonda exercises. Photo: PAP/Marcin Bielecki

The Anakonda exercises included 31,000 soldiers from 18 NATO members and five partner countries training in Poland amid fears by Central and Eastern European states that Russia poses a threat to their security.

"It is time to tell everyone that NATO stands on the borders of the EU, and will not allow anyone to violate them," Macierewicz said.

"Today the time has come for Poland to say, 'thank you'," Macierewicz added, addressing soldiers who took part in the exercises.

The US Army Europe commander, Gen. Ben Hodges said on Friday that Anakonda “was one of the best prepared exercises” he had ever taken part in.

Macierewicz said that in three weeks, during the NATO summit in Warsaw, “we can tell the whole world that Poland and other countries on the eastern and southern flanks [of the European Union] will host soldiers from NATO and the United States”.

Recent media reports have indicated that NATO will station four battlegroups in the Baltic region, including the Suwałki Gap in north-eastern Poland, in early 2017. (rg)

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