“Within NATO, Poland is not only a recipient of security, but also a provider of this security. for the Baltic states. Therefore, any irresponsible, imprudent action will mean major losses for NATO’s eastern flank,” Wojciech Skurkiewicz, Senator of Law and Justice, former Minister of Foreign Affairs at the Ministry of National Defense, told the wPolityce.pl portal.
“It is not attractive enough for us to implement it” – this is how Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz spoke on Radio Zet about the Koreans’ offer. This is not the first disturbing statement of this nature by the ruling coalition regarding agreements with South Korea. Suffice it to recall Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s press conference on December 27, 2023, when he admitted that there would be a problem with the agreements with Korea.
The wPolityce.pl portal asked PiS senator and former deputy head of the Ministry of National Defense Wojciech Skurkiewicz to comment on Kosiniak-Kamysz’s statement.
It is unbelievable that in a situation where a regular war is taking place behind our eastern border, a war of attrition, while Poland has transferred a significant part of its weapons to the Ukrainian side in the form of equipment donations, someone is trying to undermine the actions taken by the then Minister of Defense has undertaken in 2023 or 2022. All actions of Minister Mariusz Błaszczak were preceded by consultations, conversations and many suggestions from the Commander-in-Chief of the Polish Army
– says our interlocutor.
It is no coincidence that the Council for the Technical Modernization of the Armed Forces operated within the Ministry of National Defense. It is no coincidence that this council met almost weekly, in hours-long sessions, where the main topics of discussion were the procurement and modernization activities of the head of the Ministry of Defense.
– he adds.
Apparently, the current December 13 coalition is trying to take actions that, on the one hand, will limit the defense capabilities of the Republic of Poland – because we already hear about reducing the numbers, and not implementing activities to promote service to the Polish army, and there are other elements, perhaps related to limiting this purchasing part
– emphasizes Skurkiewicz.
A few weeks ago, when the Senate discussed the 2024 budget, I warned against such measures. Because we already had to deal with this in the years 2008-2015, during the cabinet of the PO-PSL coalition. When defense expenditure was limited, when the then rulers with a meager national defense budget of 13.5 billion złoty were not able to spend money on the technical modernization of the armed forces. Let’s hope it doesn’t happen again
– reminds the PiS politician.
READ ALSO: Kosiniak-Kamysz worried about the agreement with Korea! “Unacceptable”. Błaszczak: Negotiate, don’t complain!
PiS wants to be a substantive opposition
When Prime Minister Tusk stated on December 27 that there “would be a problem” with the agreements with Korea, he also admitted that the “great advantage” was the availability of Korean equipment “immediately”. When the former head of the Ministry of National Defense, Mariusz Błaszczak, a day after this conference, the head of government warned his successor in this position that this could mean withdrawing from the modernization plan and cutting defense expenditures, said the then National Defense spokesperson. Polish People’s Party, and today the Deputy Minister of Climate and Environment, Miłosz Motyka – without, however, referring to details. Do today’s statements by the current Minister of Defense show that Mr Błaszczak was right at the time?
First of all, let me repeat it again: defense budget expenditure currently stands at 3 percent. GDP. There should be no discussion about this. This obligation is imposed by the Homeland Defense Act – period
– emphasizes Senator Skurkiewicz.
The support fund, i.e. a supplementary mechanism for providing technical modernization, especially in the first years, when there are large, expensive orders, should be managed as best as possible so that we can rearm the Polish army and finally move away from post- Soviet equipment. . The equipment still used by the Polish Army today is of little use from the point of view of the 21st century battlefield.
– he adds.
Much has already been done, but equipment such as MiGi-29 or Mi-24 helicopters should become a thing of the past. They need to be replaced with new equipment, and it is no coincidence that we have started negotiations with the American side to sell 98 state-of-the-art Apache helicopters to Poland.
– points out our conversation partner.
It is no coincidence that we have taken action to ensure that these squadrons of FA-50 aircraft become part of the armed forces’ equipment. The first 12 copies are already flying in the red-white checkered pattern. What is needed today is a responsible approach to safety. We, as Law and Justice, will be the substantive opposition, supporting rational actions that will guarantee the security of Poland, but at the same time criticizing those actions that will limit the security of Poland and Poles.
– says a PiS politician.
READ ALSO: Will Tusk pull back from defense spending? Błaszczak: “Mr. Kosiniak-Kamysz, I warned you!” Motyka’s nervous reaction
“Kosiniak-Kamysz has no luck with Tusk”
Isn’t it a bit like Prime Minister Donald Tusk wants to use the hands of Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz to implement decisions that are not so much unpopular, as it was during the time of the PO-PSL government, but simply dangerous for Poland? ?
Without a doubt, Kosiniak-Kamysz is not as lucky as Tusk when it comes to the government making important and strategic decisions. It is worth recalling that during the PO-PSL coalition, Donald Tusk, with the hands and face of Kosiniak-Kamysz, raised the retirement age for women and men in Poland to 67 years.
– reminds the interlocutor of wPolityce.pl.
It is possible that he will want to repeat this maneuver. Only this time, with the hands and face of Kosiniak-Kamysz, he will limit the defense expenditure of the Republic of Poland and, consequently, limit the security of Poland and Poland.
– he adds.
Poland is a flank country. All eyes of the North Atlantic Alliance countries are on Warsaw and Poland. Therefore, we must be a leader when it comes to technical modernization and increasing the size of the Polish army. This also applies to support for our allies, because Poland is not only a recipient of security within NATO, but also a provider of this security, among other things. for the Baltic states
– emphasizes Wojciech Skurkiewicz.
Therefore, any irresponsible, imprudent action will mean major losses for NATO’s eastern flank
– summarizes the senator.
Senator Skurkiewicz about Telewizja in Poland
Previously, Senator Wojciech Skurkiewicz was also a guest on Telewizja wPolska, where he briefly commented on the Russian missile attack on Ukraine in a conversation with editor Małgorzata Jarecka. One of the missiles flew towards Poland, but changed course.
We will undoubtedly face provocations from Vladimir Putin. Their purpose is to test our air defense systems
– said the politician in the program “W Centrum Odpowiedzeń”.
Today, it would be a huge, gigantic mistake if those currently in power wanted to limit defense spending or the development and modernization of the armed forces. Since Poland today is a frontline country, we must deploy all our forces, assets, resources and actions to ensure the security of Poland and Poles.
– added.
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Source: wPolityce