Poland in NATO

As part of the Summit, three sessions with the participation of leaders were held, including the inaugural meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council and a session with partners. For the first time, Finland took part in the debates as an official member state. On April 4, 2023, on the seventy-fourth anniversary of NATO's founding, it became its thirty-first Ally. Separate sessions were also held at the level of foreign ministers and defense ministers.

Summarizing the decisions made at the Summit, President Duda emphasized:

- For the first time since the end of the Cold War, NATO has adopted defence plans, replacing existing contingency plans. It is a practical implementation of the declaration of defence of every inch of Allied territory and a real transition from the concept of deterrence by punishment to deterrence by denial. The new plans are followed by an increase in the number of high-readiness Allied forces.

The president also referred to the threat emanating from the territory of Belarus:

- Before the Summit, we raised the issue of the possible relocation of Russian tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus and the mercenaries of the Wagner Group. Belarus is mentioned many times in the Summit communiqué. With particular emphasis on the Brest Gate as an area that will be under NATO's special supervision. This also translates into the discussion of nuclear deterrence.

On aid to Ukraine and its aspirations for membership in the Alliance:

- We supported the Ukrainian expectation of being invited to join NATO, however no far-reaching decision has been made. We approved the resignation from the MAP, this formal requirement has been removed from Ukraine. Thus, a very important procedural point is treated as completed. We have established the NATO-Ukraine Council, which is a qualitative change giving Ukraine additional opportunities for cooperation and changing the nature of relations. We have adopted a support package for Ukraine. The Summit communiqué clearly states that Ukraine will be invited to join.

Andrzej Duda also commented on the decision of the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who agreed to submit to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey an application for Sweden's accession to NATO. - This is undeniable progress - he said. He added that from the point of view of the security of NATO's eastern flank, this is a fundamentally important decision. - This is a huge strengthening and a great success of NATO - he assessed. He noted that for Poland this is an additional cover from the north.

On the sidelines of the Summit, President Andrzej Duda held a number of bilateral meetings. He met with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Rishi Sunak, with whom he discussed security, including military and defense industry cooperation, as well as further support for Ukraine.

With the Prime Minister of Slovenia, Robert Golob, he discussed security issues, including further support for Ukraine, as well as cooperation, e.g. economic, as part of the Three Seas Initiative.

Andrzej Duda talked with the President of Finland Sauli Niinistö, i.a. about security, cooperation within NATO and threats from Russia. This is the first NATO Summit attended by Finland as a member of the Alliance.

The Summit was attended by the heads of 31 states and governments of the Alliance, Sweden, partners; Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine, Indo-Pacific partners; Australia, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand as well as the European Union.

- NATO is unity. There are no issues in NATO that are deeply contentious. So there is unity, solidarity and support for Ukraine, said Andrzej Duda at the end of his visit.

 

Fot.: Marek Borawski/KPRP

 

Permanent Delegation of the Republic of Polanf to NATO