Poland’s Zbigniew Rau and Mariusz Błaszczak will hold discussions with Britain’s James Cleverly and Ben Wallace in the British capital in the so-called Quadriga format, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
The ministers will talk about the main topics of the upcoming NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, as well as bilateral cooperation in security and defence policy, according to the Polish foreign ministry.
Rau, Błaszczak, Cleverly and Wallace are also set to discuss security risks posed by Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine, and further support for Kyiv’s fight against the Kremlin’s invasion, the PAP news agency reported.
Meanwhile, the Polish and UK defence ministers will also hold separate talks on the changing security situation on NATO’s eastern flank, including "the threat posed by the movement of Russia’s Wagner Group of mercenaries to Belarus, and the migrant crisis," according to officials.
“The discussions will also focus on arms cooperation, joint troop exercises and the presence of British soldiers in Poland, as well as the issue of further military and training assistance to Ukraine, where Poland and Britain are playing a key role,” reporters were told.
Błaszczak and Wallace are also expected to sign off on a Polish-British defence cooperation plan and “a joint declaration on a Polish-British strategic partnership in foreign, defence and security policy,” the Polish defence ministry said.
After Wednesday’s Quadriga consultations, the Polish and UK top diplomats and defence ministers are scheduled to hold a joint news conference.
On Thursday, Poland’s Błaszczak will meet with representatives of Britain’s arms industry, including contractors already working for the Polish government, the PAP news agency reported.
British arms maker MBDA UK has provided the CAMM missiles and so-called iLaunchers for Poland’s Mała Narew (Small Narew) next-generation short-range air defence system, according to officials.
Meanwhile, British troops are stationed in Poland as part of a NATO multinational battle group and as part of the UK Sky Sabre air defence system, the PAP news agency also reported.
In 2021, Britain sent a contingent of military engineers to help strengthen the Polish-Belarusian border amid a migrant crisis, according to officials.
The Polish-British Quadriga meeting includes a joint discussion by the four ministers and one-on-one talks.
The two countries’ previous Quadriga consultations took place in 2018 in Helenów near Warsaw.
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, launching the largest military campaign in Europe since World War II.
Wednesday is day 497 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
(pm/gs)
Source: PAP, gov.pl