Poland and Canada ready to deepen already strong defense cooperation

On Wednesday, the headquarters of the Ministry of National Defense hosted a meeting between the defense ministers of Poland and Canada. According to information provided by the ministry, the talks focused on strengthening relations between the two countries in defense, security, and the exchange of experiences. Additionally, military cooperation and NATO-related collaboration were discussed.

"Polish-Canadian relations have never been as strong as they are now," assured Kosiniak-Kamysz during the joint press conference with Blair. He highlighted examples such as the cooperation between armed forces and the presence of Canadian soldiers in Poland, who support Ukraine and train alongside the Polish army.

Kosiniak-Kamysz thanked Blair for Canada's commitment to the security of NATO's eastern flank. "The cooperation between the Polish and Canadian armies is very good. Our soldiers simply like each other and work well together," said the Minister of National Defense.

"Strong alliances, a strong army, and a strong society - these three elements ensure victory. If we have them, we will succeed. If we lose any of these, unfortunately, a darker scenario is possible," he assessed.

Kosiniak-Kamysz shared that several issues were agreed upon during the meeting. "We want to sign an agreement to enhance our skills and cooperation for the years 2025-2026. We aim to precisely define what Canada and Poland can jointly achieve in the field of security," the deputy prime minister declared.

He added that both countries share unequivocal positions regarding support for Ukraine and emphasized that Canada declared extensive assistance from the very beginning of the war in Ukraine.

Kosiniak-Kamysz also reported agreements on several issues related to NATO investments, including strategic and structural investments that concern the operational capabilities of NATO forces in Europe.

"We discussed skill enhancement, utilizing expertise in handling the most advanced equipment, as well as improving qualifications in operating Leopard tanks," the Minister of National Defense recounted.

He expressed a desire to ensure that "the experiences we have already shared with the Canadian side are continued."

"It is very important for us that Canadian soldiers are on the eastern flank (of NATO - ed.), not only in Poland, but a very large group of Canadian soldiers is in Latvia, where there are also Polish soldiers," emphasized the deputy prime minister.

He also pointed out that among NATO countries, the exchange of skills and operational capabilities with Canada is "one of the strongest."

"This is extremely encouraging for us. ... I am very happy that we are together once again, thank you for all the support from Canada, and we are open to deepening this cooperation," emphasized Kosiniak-Kamysz.

"I believe that the plan for the years 2025-2026, which we will adopt soon, will lead to even greater development and integration of our forces, and our responsibility for security," said the defense minister.

Bill Blair expressed gratitude to Poland for its hospitality toward Canadian soldiers. He emphasized that Poland and Canada share a common approach and mutual responsibility in matters of defense and support for Ukraine.

Blair highlighted that, as a peaceful nation, Canada is often far from conflicts but understands its responsibilities. He also noted that Canada and Poland frequently stand together on various occasions and that the relations between the two countries are strong.