Defence minister: Poland must change its policy on defending Baltic
PR dla Zagranicy
Roberto Galea
23.05.2017 13:23
Poland needs to change its approach to defending the Baltic sea, Defence Minister Antoni Macierewicz has said, adding that the country needs submarines equipped with means of deterrence.
Polish defence minister Antoni Macierewicz. Photo: PAP/Darek Delmanowicz
For months, the ministry has been saying it is reviewing tenders to purchase at least three new submarines for the country’s Navy. Poland also plans to equip the Armed Forces with over a dozen new helicopters.
Macierewicz was quoted in an interview in Tuesday’s edition of the Nasz Dziennik daily as saying that Poland should put “a greater emphasis on submarines, which must be equipped not only with defensive elements but also aircraft and deterrence instruments.”
He added that an audit of Poland’s defence systems, which lasted 10 months, concluded that Poland needs to develop its defence infrastructure which would reduce the chances of an attack on the country.
He said that Poland needs more than multi-task helicopters, but “above all, assault helicopters with large firepower.”
Poland has been intensifying its defence mechanisms in light of the increased aggression by Russia to the east of Poland.
Some 400 soldiers on Monday joined the ranks of Poland’s newly formed Territorial Defence Force (WOT), which aims to support the army and teach patriotism to local communities.
Last week, Macierewicz said that the final aim of modernising Poland's armed forces is the ability to defend the country by itself.
Apart from buying new helicopters and submarines for the country’s military, Macierewicz has also said that the ministry was looking into purchasing thousands of drones “so that we will able to defend ourselves against every threat.” However, the drone tender was cancelled in April. (rg)