Mariusz Błaszczak, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense, met Canadian Defense Minister Anita Anand in Ottawa. “We are acting together – Poland and Canada, to support the security of Europe. Canadian soldiers perform tasks on Polish soil and benefit from Polish support, Mariusz Błaszczak said at the post-meeting press conference.
The Polish Minister of National Defense stated at the conference after the meeting with his Canadian counterpart that relations between the two countries are extremely good.
Our relations have intensified thanks to technical and military cooperation under various formulas. I am convinced that both parties will benefit from cooperation in this area
Blaszczak said.
We act together – Poland and Canada, to support the security of Europe. Canadian military personnel perform tasks on Polish territory and benefit from Polish support
– added.
Poland’s head of the Ministry of Defense thanked Anita Anand for mobilizing Western countries to create a “tank coalition”, which facilitated the transfer of Leopard tanks to Ukraine. Błaszczak recalled that Canada was also a pioneer in supporting Poland’s efforts to gain NATO membership status.
Thank you for your support in the delivery of Leopards to Ukraine. Your decision on this caused other countries to follow your lead by creating a tank coalition
– declared the head of the Ministry of National Defense.
Our repeated visits to each other prove how good our relationship is. Our perception of the situation in Europe is similar and I am convinced that we will have the opportunity to further strengthen our relations
Blaszczak said.
The defense minister expressed his belief that the war in Ukraine will not end soon, so Russia’s imperial aspirations must be stopped with all possible efforts. In this regard, Błaszczak recalled the famous words of Lech Kaczyński, who in Georgia warned against the absorption of neighboring countries by the Putin regime.
Military equipment for Ukraine
Błaszczak thanked Canada for the decision to transfer Leopard tanks from the Canadian Army equipment to Ukraine.
This contributed to the decisions of other countries
he noticed.
Asked in this regard about the transfer of fighter aircraft to Ukraine, Błaszczak said that Poland had transferred 10 MiG-29 aircraft.
We are not trying to put pressure on our allies, we are trying to support Ukraine, which is also fighting for our freedom
– said Błaszczak, explaining the reasons for Poland’s involvement and recalling then-President Lech Kaczyński’s remark, after the Russian invasion of Georgia in 2008, that “we know very well that today Georgia, tomorrow Ukraine, the day after tomorrow the Baltic states, and later it may be time for my country to Poland.
Polish defense expenditure
Canadian journalists asked about the reasons why the defense spending of Canada and Poland differs relative to GDP, Canada does not exceed 2 percent of GDP. GDP, and Poland’s expenditure is higher in percentage terms.
It’s our choice, we decided to spend more because Poland is in the danger zone
– stated Błaszczak Polish decisions to allocate 3 percent. defense GDP.
We build interoperability
– emphasized Błaszczak, referring to cooperation within NATO and adding that regardless of the form of government in Russia, tsarist, communist or present, “the Russian Empire is the same, dangerous.”
Poland one of the leaders
Poland is one of the leaders of cooperation in organizing aid for the defense of Ukraine, Canadian Defense Minister Anita Anand said at a joint press conference with Mariusz Błaszczak, Poland’s deputy prime minister and head of the defense ministry.
Recalling that it was the anniversary of the victory over the Nazi Empire in 1945, Anand stressed that it was also a reminder of why alliances are important.
We must stop the dictator again (…) We know that we can count on Poland
– said Anand, recalling that Canada was the first country to ratify Poland’s membership in NATO in 1998.
Cooperation between Canada and Poland in helping Ukraine consists of both exploiting logistical opportunities in the transfer of aid from Canada and training cooperation. Anand said Canada has provided Ukraine with military aid worth more than CAD1 billion, and there are currently 80 Canadian military personnel in Poland providing training for Ukrainian sappers, tank crews and battlefield first aid training.
We can provide these skills largely because Poland was willing to help
– she added, emphasizing that the cooperation between Canada and Poland is a long-term one.
Visit to Canada
Minister Błaszczak has been visiting Canada since Sunday; previously been to the United States where the head of the Pentagon met Lloyd Austin. The meeting of the head of the Polish Ministry of Defense with the Canadian Defense Minister was announced by the Ministry in a Twitter post.
In Ottawa, a meeting began between Deputy Prime Minister Mariusz Błaszczak and Defense Minister Anita Anand. The talks focused on further support to Ukraine, cooperation within NATO, developing modernization cooperation and increasing cooperation between reserve units of the Canadian Forces and the Polish WOT
– we read in the MON message
Cooperation with Canada
As the ministry has previously communicated, there are also plans to meet with representatives of the Standing Committee of the House of Commons on National Defense, which will discuss the issues of developing military cooperation.
The defense ministers of Poland and Canada met earlier in October last year when Anand visited Warsaw. During the meeting, ministers signed a memorandum of understanding between the Minister of National Defense of the Republic of Poland and the Canadian Ministry of National Defense on defense cooperation. Ministers also held a meeting in January on aid to Ukraine.
Canada is one of the countries involved in supporting the Ukrainian troops defending against the Russian invasion. Support pledged included: Leopard 2A4 tanks and several hundred Senator armored personnel carriers; Canada also declared the purchase of the NASAMS air defense system for Ukraine. In addition, Canadian soldiers participate in the training of Ukrainians in the operation of leopards on Polish training grounds, and also conduct medical training for them.
In addition, Canadian troops are also present on NATO’s eastern flank – in Latvia, where Canada is the cadre nation of NATO’s eFP (enhanced Forward Presence) battlegroup. The battle group also includes a Polish contingent in the form of a tank company.
READ ALSO:
— Deputy Prime Minister Blaszczak in Canada. The head of the Ministry of National Defense laid flowers in front of the monument to those who died for the freedom of Poland in the First and Second World Wars
— Head of the Ministry of National Defense: Lockheed Martin willing to cooperate with the Polish defense industry and invest in Poland
— Deputy Prime Minister Błaszczak: There is war on our border. Strengthening the Polish army in terms of numbers is extremely important
pn/PAP/Twitter
Source: wPolityce