"It is dangerous to think that geographic distance from Moscow protects against Putin's intentions, his disinformation campaigns and state terrorism, killings and assassinations on European soil", Sikorski said in the interview, which took place in Barcelona, where Poland’s chief diplomat attended the annual Cercle d'Economia gathering and met with his Spanish counterpart, Jose Manuel Albares.
Sikorski, who also serves as Poland's deputy prime minister, said the Russian threat "has many dimensions". For Poland, he noted, those include the destabilization of its border through migrant pressure orchestrated via Belarus, as well as drone incursions launched from Russian and Belarusian territory.
He acknowledged that Spain perceives the Russian threat differently due to geography, but argued that Moscow has already interfered in Spanish internal affairs by backing Catalan separatists. He also warned that Russian destabilization in Africa's Sahel region "may have consequences for Spain".
Sikorski added that Russia "spends millions of dollars polarizing European society, stoking controversy and spreading disinformation", and cautioned that China "cannot be seen as an ally" because it seeks to exploit European vulnerabilities at every opportunity.
On defense spending, Sikorski said Europe must increase its military budgets. Poland is targeting 4.7% of GDP. Spain, the only NATO member opposed to a 5% GDP defense spending goal, has said 2.1% is sufficient to meet alliance objectives — a position that has drawn criticism from allies including the United States.
Sikorski also rejected the idea of a European army, saying it "would mean the abolition of national armies". Instead, he called for better use of EU defense instruments and the creation of joint rapid-reaction battalions for crisis situations — including in countries such as Libya, where he said the EU must defend its interests against Russian interference.
"In such circumstances, we should be able to act militarily without constantly relying on the United States", Sikorski told the daily.
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Source: PAP