Defense minister: security is the crucial task of the government

"In the face of the greatest threat to Poland's sovereignty since the end of World War II, security is not only a matter of national interest, it is the most important task in this term," Kosiniak-Kamysz told the Sejm.

He added that ensuring security requires cooperation of all political forces, the government and the president, the cooperation of parliament, and the support of local governments.

"We differ on many issues. We engage in political disputes in Poland and in this hall, but the principle that should guide us, regardless of the faction we represent, is cooperation for the sake of security," he said.

The defence minister stressed that Poland needs to bolster protection of its eastern border.

"There are delays, it's true, it would have been better to make this decision two years ago, but it's never too late to do good things," he said. Hence, as he explained, the decision to prepare a national defense and deterrence plan called "Shield East".

As Kosiniak-Kamysz explained, various types of fortification equipment will be gathered at the border, but not only that.

"Most importantly, it's the new technologies that will be used for fortification. It won't just be reinforced concrete hedgehogs or palisades, it won't just be the gathering of equipment to be used at the right time and place. The aim is surveillance operations, full monitoring, reconnaissance operations, and anti-drone activities.

"All these latest systems will be located along 400 kilometers of our border, especially with Belarus and the Russian Federation," he said.

The MOD chief emphasized that building a secure eastern border is also an investment in the local economy.

"We will engage Polish companies and Polish entrepreneurs in the implementation of the 'Shield East' project. This is our responsibility for security as a whole, which does not only mean the military dimension," he stressed.

Kosiniak-Kamysz also highlighted the issue of increased spending for the Polish army which has reached "a record level of four percent of GDP, the highest among all NATO countries".

"We have increased financial allocations for defense to 118 billion zlotys from the state budget, and together with the Armed Forces Support Fund, which will be continued and developed, it is 159 billion zlotys," he declared.