During a visit to the Maritime Operations Center in the Polish port city of Gdynia, Duda emphasized the strategic importance of the Baltic region for national and NATO defense.
"We are preparing for any offensive actions from the Russian side. Unfortunately, especially in recent months since the Russian aggression against Ukraine, we are constantly dealing with Russian provocations, particularly air provocations in the Baltic Sea region," Duda said during a press briefing.
He highlighted the historical significance of the Baltic Sea, noting that World War II began with the attack of a German ship on Westerplatte and the German air force on Wieluń.
Duda stressed the strategic importance of the Baltic Sea, pointing to its role in maintaining trade routes and providing combat and military support if needed. "It is also our seaports, our critical infrastructure. This is to preserve the possibility of trade and the possibility of supplying also combat and military support precisely by sea, should the need arise," he stated.
He emphasized that the security of the coastline, ports, and infrastructure is crucial to Poland's security, mentioning specific assets such as the Baltic gas pipeline, the gas port, and essential connectivity, much of which is carried out at the bottom of the Baltic Sea.
"This is a matter of absolutely strategic interests of the Republic," Duda said, highlighting the significance of Poland's navy's interoperability within NATO in the Baltic region.
Duda also noted the strategic advantage provided by the recent accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO: "This practically means that all countries in the Baltic region, except Russia, are today part of this great security community that is the North Atlantic Alliance."
The NATO exercise BALTOPS 24 (Baltic Operations 2024) began on May 5 in the Baltic Sea, involving more than 50 ships, 45 helicopters and aircraft, and 9,000 troops from 20 NATO countries. The 53rd edition of the exercise is being conducted throughout the Baltic Sea, as well as in land areas in Sweden, Poland, Germany, and Lithuania.
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Source: IAR, PAP