A fresh agreement on cooperation in the field of security, cooperation of defence industries, support for Ukraine – these are the topics discussed during today's gathering of defence ministers of Poland and Norway. Politicians besides came to Poznań to meet Norwegian airmen who are on work in Poznań-Krzesiny.
The Norwegian contingent service at 31 Tactical Aviation Base began at the end of last year. Its core consists of 4 F-35 aircraft. Their task is to strengthen the protection of the east flank of NATO. To this end, the machines on shift are full-time. – We are part of the NATO Integrated Air and rocket Defence mission. all day we besides practice with Polish pilots F-16 – explains Colonel Pil. “Morgan”, the commander of the Norwegian division. Additionally, the Norwegian Armed Forces sent NASAMS air defence systems to Poland. They in turn were located close Rzeszów-Jasionka Airport in Podkarpacie. There is simply a logistical hub through which aid flows for the fighting Ukraine.
“Norway is simply a very crucial safety partner for us.You can say that it is simply a strategical partner,” stressed Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence in Poznań. He came to the base in Krzesinach with his Norwegian counterpart – Tore Sandvik. As he explained, primarily to meet the soldiers who service here and to thank for their efforts to defend the Polish sky. The heads of the defence department together watched the start of the F-35 pair. They had spent nearly an hr on bilateral conversations.
Production: Łukasz Zalesiński, Aleksander Kruk / ArmouredTV
– We discussed joint ventures. We besides adopted an action plan for this year – explained Deputy Prime Minister Kosiniak-Kamish during the press conference. A fresh safety cooperation agreement to be signed shortly became a key issue. The present, as the head of the Polish MON acknowledged, was concluded 30 years ago, and since then much has changed in Europe. The West faced extended hybrid activities and misinformation from Russia. Critical infrastructure, especially 1 located on the seas, was in grave danger. “We request a fresh agreement to respond to the threats that we and Norwegians realize very well. We know what neo-imperialism means in the Russian edition – Kosiniak-Kamish emphasized.
But that is not the end. The heads of defence departments besides talked in Poznań about strengthening the cooperation of defence industries. “I would like to fly to Oslo shortly and present our offer of both state and private industry, due to the fact that this is equally important,” declared the head of the Polish MON. Both countries besides intend to make military mobility capabilities and guarantee the readiness to further support Ukraine. “We are united in the discussion on fair peace,” stressed Władysław Kosiniak-Kamish.
He was told by Tore Sandvik, for whom today's visit to Poland was the first abroad trip. The Norwegian minister took office six days ago. I'm here to see a good ally we work with. Poland has taken large work in terms of Ukraine's support. You are making an extraordinary effort to supply her with the civilian and military assistance she needs most," Sandvik pointed out. The Norwegian minister praised Poland for crucial investments in defence. "They have contributed both to strengthening our relation and to strengthening NATO as a whole," he assured. Norway, as he stressed, is ready to make bilateral cooperation. – Both of our countries have a border with Russia, which we talked about today. Norway is besides the ears and eyes of NATO in the north. After Finland and Sweden entered NATO, we see clearly that the Baltic and the far north became elements of the same theatre and that we should join forces – he summed up.
The Norwegian contingent, according to preliminary arrangements, should stay in Poland until Easter.
