Poland has announced its intention to deploy up to 10,000 additional troops to its border with Belarus in a bid to support the Border Guard, as per a statement made by Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak on August 10. The move comes amid escalating tensions between the two neighboring countries and growing concerns over security challenges posed by recent developments.
In an interview with public radio, Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak revealed the scale of the planned deployment, explaining that approximately 10,000 soldiers would be stationed along the border. Out of this contingent, 4,000 troops will be directly involved in supporting the Border Guard, while the remaining 6,000 will be held in reserve. Blaszczak emphasized the strategic rationale behind the deployment.
"We move the army closer to the border with Belarus to scare away the aggressor so that it does not dare to attack us," Blaszczak stated.
The decision to increase troop numbers at the border follows an earlier announcement by Deputy Interior Minister Maciej Wasik, who revealed on August 9 that Poland was initially planning to send an additional 2,000 troops to reinforce security along its frontier with Belarus.
#Wagner mercenaries allegedly enter #Belarus as #Ukraine monitors border
— Daryo | Central Asia & Afghanistan (@DaryoEng) July 16, 2023
The exact number of these "militants," their specific location, and their objectives are currently being assessed by the DPSU.
Details — https://t.co/IWl0BE03Xx pic.twitter.com/Lfzhg58S12
The escalating situation has its roots in the arrival of several hundred Wagner mercenaries in Belarus, at the invitation of president Alexander Lukashenko. This development has raised significant concerns within Poland's leadership, prompting the nation to take measures to secure its borders and deter any potential aggression.
Belarus has continued to conduct military exercises near the border in recent days, further stoking tensions in the region. President Alexander Lukashenko has addressed the situation, indicating that he has been restraining the Wagner fighters who reportedly harbor intentions to launch an attack on Poland.
In addition to the security concerns related to the Wagner presence, Poland has also been grappling with a surge in the number of migrants attempting to cross its borders. Notably, the majority of these migrants originate from Middle Eastern and African countries. Tomasz Praga, the head of the Border Guard, recently highlighted the gravity of the situation, revealing that the number of illegal border crossing attempts had risen to 19,000 this year, compared to 16,000 in the previous year.
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