We must build resilience to future challenges together
05.05.2022
“The ongoing Russian invasion on sovereign Ukraine shattered our convictions that the horror of full-scale war in Europe belonged to the past. This unprovoked attack, facilitated by Belarus, has confirmed Russia’s readiness to purse its neo-imperial ambitions through military means. Moreover, it has also shown that Kremlin is ready to undertake the risk of military actions which are potentially costly also for Russia. All of that combined gives us a grim picture of the Russian leadership which will stop at nothing but to achieve its delusional objectives, even at the expense of its own people and regardless of the inevitable international isolation, consequently making Russia and its president Vladimir Putin an international pariahs” - said Mariusz Błaszczak, the Minister of National Defence during the opening of NATO Resilience Symposium 2022.
On Thursday, May the 5th at the War Studies University, the head of the Ministry of National Defence opened the international symposium NATO Resilience Symposium 2022, which discusses major issues related to the most important and newest aspects in the area of security and defence.
The forum focuses primarily on current challenges and threats to international security. Speakers in the opening session were, among others Mircea Geoană, NATO Deputy Secretary General and General Phillippe Lavigne, Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (NATO SACT).
“The likelihood of further intensification of Russian activities below the threshold of war against NATO states, in response to politico-military support provided to Ukraine, is significant.All of that clearly shows us that the change in the security environment of Europe and especially on the NATO’s Eastern Flank that has started in 2014 or even earlier, in Georgia in 2008, persists and will persist.It is very unlikely that Russia, even if defeated in Ukraine, will re-evaluate the anti-Western paradigm of its foreign and military policy as well as its attitude towards the current international order. It will continue to perceive us as adversaries and make deliberate and more sophisticated attempts to weaken our capacities and will to resist its neo-imperial ambitions”
- Minister Mariusz Błaszczak said during the opening of the NATO forum.
The participants of the symposium also focused on issues related to the resistance of states to existing threats. During the debate, the head of the Ministry of National Defence recalled, among others, how important it is to build the country's resilience to hostile actions by Russia.
“The only thing we can be sure of is that our security environment will be more and more challenging and unpredictable, and thus, will require more whole-of-country approach better integrating both civilian and military capabilities in order to make us more resilient. Poland, as Russia’s neighbor and both NATO and the EU flank country, attaches great importance to strengthening its resilience”
– the minister noted.
The recent suspension of gas flow to our country may be the very good example of that as we have been aware of such possibility and preparing for it for years (with LNG terminal in Świnoujście, Baltic Pipe pipeline nearly ready, gas interconnectors with our neighbors as well as our own supplies). Strengthening our individual resilience contributes to the resilience of our whole community - emphasized the head of the Ministry of National Defence.
During the two-day forum of the North Atlantic Alliance, the speakers will discuss issues related to, inter alia, civil and military cooperation in building resilience, new technologies and security in cyberspace, energy security and the impact of climate change on the security of the civilian, military and economic sectors.
“I am glad that tomorrow there will be the whole panel devoted to partnerships. Increased support to partners is, and has always been, Poland’s priority within both EU and NATO. Our cooperation with partners cannot be perceived though as a one-way street. We have capacities and instruments to help them but we should be ready to learn from their experiences as well. Ukraine is the best example here. We all have been heavily involved in defence reforms and defence capacity building in Ukraine since 2014, through NATO and other multilateral mechanisms as well as bilateral activities. That support now clearly pays off for Ukraine. We are watching with strong admiration how the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the whole society are holding off Russia’s offensive. Effectiveness of Ukrainian defence as well as heroism shown on the battlefield inspires respect among people all over the world. Ukrainians have also shown that, despite differences in military potential, Russia can be beaten if proper strategy is being implemented”
- emphasized the minister Błaszczak.
GALLERY - >>We must build resilience to future challenges together
