2024-03-12 19:42 update: 2024-03-13, 14:58
Photo PAP/Radek Pietruszka
Nato's operational capacity on the eastern flank needs to be much greater than at present, Poland's prime minister said in Washington on Tuesday.
Donald Tusk said only a strong Poland could guarantee regional stability and that Poland's role was key to the West's security. He also said regional instability in Central Europe would result in major problems for the West.
Speaking ahead of his talks with US President Joe Biden together with Polish President Andrzej Duda, Tusk told private broadcaster TVN24 that everyone was focused on not creating a scenario whereby Russia progressed in Ukraine.
Tusk also commented on an earlier statement by Biden that Washington did not currently foresee an increased US troop presence in Poland, which Tusk said should be taken seriously.
"Nato must recognise that if not today then tomorrow, if not tomorrow then the day after, but almost literally the operational capabilities of Nato on the eastern flank must be much greater than today," he said.
The prime minister went on to say Poland was prepared to spend "very big money" on armaments.
"Actually, I will also talk about it very openly - only a strong Poland will guarantee the stability of the whole region, and an unstable region, sooner or later, means dramatic problems for the whole West. I would like to get it through to all our interlocutors today that a strong, equipped Poland, assisted by its allies, is no longer just a matter of our own security, it is a matter of the security of the whole of the West," Tusk said.
"Our partners must understand that their security means the necessity of investing money, people and Nato infrastructure in Poland," he added. (PAP)
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