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Strengthening Polish military deters Russia: president

07.02.2024 17:30
In a statement during a visit to Rwanda, Polish President Andrzej Duda highlighted the importance of strengthening Poland's military capabilities to minimize the threat of a Russian attack.
Audio
Polish President Andrzej Duda and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame meet in Kigali on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024.
Polish President Andrzej Duda and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame meet in Kigali on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024.Photo: PAP/Radek Pietruszka

The president's comments came during a joint press conference with his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame on Wednesday.

Addressing concerns about potential aggression from Russia, Duda said that the resurgence of Russian imperialism, exemplified by the attack on Ukraine, poses a theoretical threat to Poland.

However, he emphasized that a strong, well-equipped Polish military would significantly reduce the likelihood of such an attack.

"If Poland is strong, the danger of a potential attack will obviously decrease sharply," Duda said.

The president underscored the necessity of ongoing modernization and procurement of military equipment for Poland's defense forces.

He expressed confidence that successful implementation of these measures would greatly enhance Poland's defensive potential, effectively minimizing the risk of a Russian assault.

Duda asserted that, supported by NATO — especially the US Army — Poland would be well-prepared to immediately repel any attack.

The president also remarked on Putin's likely hesitation to attack any NATO member state, given recent demonstrations of the technological and equipment gap between NATO countries and Russia, Polish state news agency PAP reported.

"Vladimir Putin will think many times before attacking any NATO state," Duda stated, highlighting the deterrent effect of NATO's superior capabilities.

(rt/gs)

Source: IAR, PAP, prezydent.pl

Click on the audio player above for a report by Radio Poland's Marcin Matuszewski.