Poland has launched "Air Dawn," an operation aimed at strengthening air defense on its eastern border. This initiative includes the Shield East project, a €2.3 billion investment to fortify the region against potential threats from Belarus and Russia.
In a move to further bolster this defense, Poland has announced a significant step to enhance its national security by launching an operation named "Air Dawn." This initiative focuses on strengthening air defense along the country’s eastern border, a region that has been increasingly vulnerable due to rising tensions with neighboring countries Belarus and Russia.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk revealed an investment of over €2.3 billion in a system known as Shield East. Scheduled for completion in 2028, Shield East will integrate advanced anti-drone systems and new fortifications. Police and armed force Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz emphasized, "The goal of the shield is to protect our territory, hamper the mobility of our adversary's troops while making such mobility easier for our own troops, and to protect civilians."
This large-scale initiative marks the most significant effort to strengthen NATO’s eastern flank since the end of World War II. Police officials highlighted that Shield East is a collaborative project involving the Baltic states—Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. The funding for this project will primarily come from the Polish government, which allocates over 4% of its GDP to defense, with additional support expected from the EU due to the system’s regional significance.
Photo Credit: Chief of Staff, Gen Wieslaw Kukula, and Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk discussed the details of Poland's defense strategies
Police armed forces' Chief of Staff, Gen Wieslaw Kukula, and Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk discussed the details of Poland's defense strategies in Warsaw, underscoring the critical nature of Shield East.
This presentation concerns with the upcoming European Parliament elections, suggesting that the current government's emphasis on national defense may also serve as a strategic move to bolster electoral support.
Poland's previous government constructed a €368 million wall on the Belarus border in 2021 to manage a significant migrant influx. The current administration has acknowledged the need to further strengthen this wall as part of the broader defensive strategy.
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