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Minister Jacek Czaputowicz in Munich on region's security

16.02.2019

“For the past nearly 70 years, the North Atlantic Alliance has safeguarded peace, security and prosperity of its member states on both sides of the Atlantic,” said the chief of Polish diplomacy during the 55th Munich Security Conference.

Udział ministra J. Czaputowicza w Monachijskieij Konferencji Bezpieczeństwa

This year’s conference focused on defence cooperation, the situation in in South-Eastern Europe, current crises in different regions of the world - the war in Syria and conflicts in the Sahel region.

Minister Czaputowicz took part in a panel discussion titled “Defence Cooperation” together with Norway’s Prime Minister Erna Solberg, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France Jean-Yves Le Drian, Canada’s Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland, Japan’s Foreign Minister Taro Kono and US Senator Lindsey Graham.

During the discussion, Minister Jacek Czaputowicz emphasised the importance of NATO and the necessity of strengthening its forces, noting that transatlantic cooperation is now more important to Europe than ever before.

“European countries should focus on strengthening their defence capabilities through increased arms expenditure and improved operational cooperation, so that the Allied forces under NATO’s command are ready to act effectively when such need arises,” said the Polish MFA head.

During his speech on the future of defence cooperation, Minister Czaputowicz also referred to EU’s defence policy. “The development and strengthening of defence capabilities within the European Union should complement the cooperation under the North Atlantic Alliance,” he noted. The chief of Polish diplomacy stated at the same time that in the nearest future there can be no “European army” without NATO and the presence of American troops.

On the sidelines of the Conference, Minister Jacek Czaputowicz met with the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier, the Executive Director of the American Jewish Committee David Harris, US Deputy Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette, as well as Minister for Federal and European Affairs of Bavaria Florian Herrmann.

While in Munich, the chief of Polish diplomacy also talked with High Representative Federica Mogherini on the Ministerial to Promote Peace and Security in the Middle East, which was held in Warsaw on 13-14 February this year.

The Munich Security Conference, organised since 1962, represents a unique, prestigious forum of discussion on current international security issues. It brings together major world leaders, members of parliament, and academic community representatives from Europe, the US and Russia.

MFA Press Office

 

Photo: Sebastian Indra / MFA

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