The ongoing Dragon-24 drills are part of the larger NATO maneuvers named Steadfast Defender-24, which are taking place until the end of May throughout the Trans-Atlantic region.
Polish President Andrzej Duda and his Lithuanian counterpart Gitanas Nauseda viewed the drills in the company of Poland's Defense Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz and US Gen. Christopher Cavoli, who is NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe.
The head of the Polish president's National Security Bureau (BBN), Jacek Siewiera, and the chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces, Gen. Wiesław Kukuła, were also among the audience, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
Security committee to discuss weather balloons
Kosiniak-Kamysz said the Polish government would discuss the takeaways from the military exercises at a Security Committee meeting later this month.
The Security Committee meeting comes amid heightened attention to national security measures and close cooperation with NATO allies.
One of the key topics will be the recent discovery of what are believed to be weather balloons in various locations in northeastern Poland, according to Kosiniak-Kamysz.
The issue of weather balloons found on Polish soil has sparked curiosity and concern.
Kosiniak-Kamysz told reporters that civilian services were conducting an investigation into these finds.
The presence of multiple balloons has been confirmed, with three instances reported in the northeastern Warmińsko-Mazurskie province, according to the PAP news agency.
When found, these balloons are subject to thorough investigation to rule out any potential threats to national security.
The Associated Press has reported that some of the balloons found in Poland carried Cyrillic writing.
This issue gains further significance as Poland prepares for a pivotal moment in its international relations.
The Polish president and prime minister are scheduled to visit Washington next Tuesday to mark the 25th anniversary of Poland's accession to NATO.
Their meeting with US President Joe Biden underscores the enduring alliance between Poland and the United States, especially in matters of security and defense, according to officials.
Upon their return, the Security Committee meeting led by Kosiniak-Kamysz will convene to delve into the outcomes of the Dragon-24 exercises and examine the weather balloon incidents.
The Committee, comprising top government officials including the ministers of the interior, justice, foreign affairs, and the head of special services, emphasizes the comprehensive approach Poland is taking to address security challenges.
Local police and prosecutors have reassured the public that the discovery of weather balloons in Poland is not a new phenomenon and predates the international tensions caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine and bellicose threats against its other neighbors.
(rt/gs)
Source: PAP, IAR