UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said in Warsaw the deal “sets our joint assessment of current threats and our resolve that, in the clash between freedom and tyranny, the UK and Poland will not stand aside”.
A bilateral meeting between Poland’s deputy prime minister and defence minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz and the UK’s defence secretary Wes Streeting took place in Warsaw on Tuesday.
The three-year plan signed by the two countries is, as Poland’s Ministry of National Defence stresses, the result of the Polish-British treaty adopted a few months ago.
According to Kosiniak-Kamysz, the main areas of cooperation between Poland and the United Kingdom will include new technologies, artificial intelligence, drones, anti-drone systems, modern deterrence measures, as well as traditional exercises to build capabilities and cooperation in different conditions.
“The Miecznik programme, whose successive stages are progressing according to plan, the construction of an integrated air defence system, including the Narew, Pilica and Pilica+ programmes, and the project to build an independent production line for 155 mm ammunition: these are only part of our joint initiatives,” Kosiniak-Kamysz said at the press conference.
Relations with the US, the transatlantic alliance and Ukraine
The ministers insisted there is full unity and coordination between their countries when it comes to supporting Ukraine. The British defence secretary also referred to the hybrid attacks carried out by Russia against Poland, which he explicitly described as “terrorism”.
“We hear very clearly what Poland is experiencing every day in the form of what some describe as hybrid threats from Russia – I personally prefer to call this quite simply terrorism sponsored by a state – the daily mobilisation of your forces and air defences in the face of drone incursions,” Streeting said.
The politicians also discussed relations with the United States. The Polish defence minister said that both countries agree on a policy of strengthening and building up Europe’s own capabilities but do not support complete independence from the United States.
“Poland and the United Kingdom support strengthening this alliance [with the United States – ed.], the transatlantic alliance, because the United Kingdom is the best example – everything connected with the transatlantic alliance grew out of Britain. We are in favour of reinforcing it and building our own capabilities, of greater independence for Europe, but not independence from the United Statess,” Kosiniak-Kamysz said.
The United States, envoys of President Trump and European leaders are taking further steps to try to bring the conflict in Ukraine to an end.
The new round of negotiations on the issue will be the fourth organised by the Trump administration, following the last round held in Geneva in February.
The Kremlin spokesman said that the next talks are likely to take place in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, around the middle of November.
Western governments backing the peace initiative are seeking a new solution to break the deadlock, while acknowledging that territorial and security issues remain unresolved.
The European Commission and the European Council are working on setting up a joint team that would represent the Union’s position.
Source: www.euronews.com
