Medical evacuation of Poles from the mediate East, for which transport planes of the Polish Army were used, is underway – said the Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz in Kraków. The Deputy Prime Minister besides called on the president to sign the bill rapidly to enable the SAFE programme to be launched.
The press conference with the participation of the head of the MON took place at the 8th Transport Aviation Base in Krakow after a check-in with the command of the unit and representatives of Kraków-Balice Airport. – 2 B-737 aircraft from 1st Transport Air Base flew to Oman. There they will take all those who request to return to Poland for medical reasons," said Kosiniak-Kamish.
Medical personnel from the 8th BLT were besides assigned to the operation, which is liable for the safety of the evacuated.
Minister recalled that at the Prime Minister's request, the president signed a decision to make the Polish Military Quota intended for the implementation of this operation. Near East. – We utilized 2 B-737s, but at our disposal – as part of our decisions – there are besides 2 Herculeses from the 33rd Transport Aviation Base in Powidz, as well as CASA aircraft from 8th Base in Krakow – stated the head of the MON.
Evacuation primarily concerns people who request urgent medical attention. According to the minister, it is about a 100 Polish citizens, although, as he stressed, this number may increase even more. “If necessary, we will usage any available space for those who request this support,” said the Deputy Prime Minister.
Kosiniak-Kamysz added that after arriving in Warsaw, the evacuated will be taken into the care of the military medical safety system. He besides pointed out that the Polish military is ready to carry out further evacuation flights if operating conditions allow. – If essential and possible, we are ready. The Polish Military Quota will operate as long as essential – he assured.
Dispute over the SAFE programme
A large part of the conference was devoted to the Minister SAFE programme. Kosiniak-Kamysz called on the president to sign the bill rapidly to enable this instrument to be used. As he stressed, the program is already prepared and the buying list was developed by the military. - SAFE is ready. He has a buying list written by the military. JAfter the debate in Parliament. Only the decision of the president is required," said the head of the MON.
The Minister assessed that thanks to this instrument Poland could rapidly start concluding contracts for military equipment, especially in the national armaments. – By the end of May we are able to sign many contracts, mainly with the Polish arms industry. The sooner we order the equipment and start paying for it, the sooner it goes to the Polish Army – he noted. According to the head of the MON, Poland can receive the first funds from the programme in March. “In the second half of March, about 15 percent of the EUR 44 billion can go to Poland,” he pointed out.
Kosiniak-Kamish besides referred to the proposal to increase the backing of the army through an additional mechanics referred to as “SAFE zero”, linked to the initiative of the National Bank of Poland. The Minister stressed that he was open to discussion about additional measures for the armed forces, but, as he pointed out, they could not replace the SAFE programme. – This cannot be put as an alternative. This must be a complement – the Deputy Prime Minister stated and explained that the combination of the 2 instruments could mean up to PLN 400 billion additional funds for the Polish army in the coming years. "With these 2 programmes, we are able to build the strongest army in Europe by 2030," he said.
At the same time, he warned that blocking the SAFE programme for political reasons would be, as he said, "playing with Polish security".
Nuclear deterrence only within NATO
During the conference, the Minister besides referred to the statements made by Pentagon representatives regarding the possible improvement of national atomic capabilities by European countries. Deputy Chief of the Department of War Elbridge Colby stated that Washington is skeptical about the improvement of individual European states' own national atomic capabilities and would like atomic deterrence to stay the domain of allied mechanisms within NATO. Fragments of this message were widely cited by the media.
Kosiniak-Kamysz stressed that the scepticism of the United States towards the construction of individual states' own atomic weapons has long been known. At the same time, he pointed out that American representatives favour the strengthening of allied deterrence within NATO. “We are not reasoning of any another than allied atomic deterrence capabilities,” said the minister. He added that any action in this area must take place in agreement with the North Atlantic Alliance. – Everything is to be in agreement with NATO office in Brussels and in the framework of the cooperation of allies – the United States, France, the United Kingdom and the European countries – he stressed.
The head of the MON added that talks only concern allied mechanisms, specified as the European atomic umbrella or the American atomic sharing program. No 1 here talks about individual abilities. We are talking about allied abilities – Kosiniak-Kamish summed up.
