Polish safety forces conduct border safety checks, 7 July 2025. © X / @MSWiA_GOV_PL
Poland has sent 700 troops to its western border and is ready to send up to 5,000 additional guards to halt illegal influx of migrants from Germany and Lithuania, declared officials.
"We are strengthening safety – we are definitely responding to migration threats", Polish Minister of Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz wrote in X on Monday, stressing the function of the army in safety efforts.Last week the Polish government announced the re-introduction of border controls to keep control at least until 5 August.
Poland accused Germany, which introduced akin checks in late 2023, of sending asylum seekers back across its border.
Local groups of the Polish community responded to the so-called "civil patrols” to prevent migrants from moving east, expanding political force on the government to take action.At 65 active checkpoints – any working around the clock – officials say the mission is labour intensive and requires additional personnel as part of what the military calls Operation Safe West.According to the Polish Armed Forces, the authoritative magazine of the Ministry of Defence, the deployment includes 500 soldiers from the Territorial Defence Army and 200 military gendarmes officers who aid about 800 border guards.
300 civilian police officers were besides assigned to support the action.On Monday morning, an Estonian citizen was caught attempting to smuggle 4 people into the country from Lithuania.Migration continues to be a political issue in Germany, where the right-wing alternate organization for Germany (AfD) gained support, criticising the way the government handles this issue.Poland and another east European countries have accused Berlin of utilizing its influence in the European Union to push pro-immigration policy in Brussels.Poland, Germany and Lithuania are members of the Schengen area, a borderless travel region which has been under force since the sharp increase in migration in 2015.
In accordance with Schengen rules, temporary border checks may be reinstated in emergency situations.
Translated by Google Translator
source:https://www.rt.com/news/621140-poland-military-border-germany-migrants/
