On May 22 in Legionowo, Mariusz Blaszczak, Deputy Prime Minister-Minister of National Defense, chaired the talks of defense ministers in the format of the so-called Northern Group. The Northern Group is an important forum for exchanging opinions on current issues related to the state of the security environment in Europe and the development of political-military initiatives in NATO and the EU.

The meeting was an opportunity to discuss the threats posed by aggressive Russian policies and the attempt to rebuild the Russian empire by attacking Ukraine, by triggering a war in Europe. We also discussed our cooperation in ensuring the security of the Northern Group countries. (...) Today, Finland acted as a NATO member state for the first time. We look forward to Sweden's accession to the North Atlantic Alliance.

- said Deputy Prime Minister Mariusz Blaszczak during a press conference in Legionowo.

The Northern Group Forum was established on the initiative of the United Kingdom, which organized the first meeting of defense ministers in this format in November 2010.

I appreciate the British involvement, as well as Polish-British cooperation. (...) Thanks to this cooperation, we are building short-range air and missile defense. In Poland it is the Narew program, in the UK it is Sky Sabre - the Sky Sabre battery is in Poland and protects the Polish sky. We talked about further cooperation in this area, expanding these capabilities and strengthening the resilience of Poland, but also of the entire eastern flank of the North Atlantic Alliance.

- emphasized the head of the Ministry of Defense.

During the meeting, the ministers discussed aspects of the security of NATO's eastern flank by strengthening deterrence mechanisms and defense capabilities in relation to Russia's actual offensive potential.

Speaking of security, the head of the Polish Defense Ministry also stressed the ever-increasing importance of the Cyber Defense Forces Component Command in this area.

The place where the meeting was held has also a symbolic meaning. (...) Everyone remarked that the Cyber Defense Forces Command, here in Legionowo, is one of the most modern, that it has its tangible and measurable achievements.(...) I must proudly admit that the commitment of our Cyber Defense Forces Component is being recognized.

- said Deputy Prime Minister.

The Forum (of Northern Group) is formed by 12 Northern European countries that are members of NATO or the EU: UK, Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia. 

These have been quality talks in the format of defense ministers of 12 countries. Very substantial talks on preparations for the NATO summit in Vilnius. We have good prospects for strengthening Poland and strengthening the entire North Atlantic Alliance.

- summarized Deputy Prime Minister Blaszczak.

>>> GALLERY- Northern Group Meeting