Poland in New Zealand

„Today NATO has to deal with a whole range of complex security challenges often very different from the threats faced by the Allies when NATO was created. One such challenge is countering biological threats. The current COVID-19 pandemic - due to its global scope and widespread consequences - has led to a spike of renewed interest in the topic. Also in Poland chemical military forces, trained to minimalise the risk of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) threats, have proper resources designated to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.” - said the Polish Ambassador.

„Poland’s perception of security is being influenced by several factors, among which the most significant are: the war in Ukraine, terrorist attacks in the West, cyber-threats, radicalization leading to political violence and the ever-greater reach of tools of disinformation. Poland has developed coherent governmental and intergovernmental security policies, introduced new legal instruments, and strengthened law-enforcement capabilities.” - said ambassador Gniatkowski, adding that „the hybrid warfare (...) also poses questions regarding the need for anti-terrorism policy to be further remade at an international level.”

The conference held in Queenstown was attended by the National Party MP Simon O’Connor, the chair of the parliamentary committee of foreign affairs, defence and trade, as well as Dr Itzhak Gerberg, the Ambassador of Israel, among others. Several distinguished speakers, former advisors on defence and academics based overseas, took part in discussion virtually (due to Covid-19 and travel restrictions) while delivering online presentations.

The programme: https://www.apsisummit.com/page/working-groups-2020/