Poland, in cooperation with other NATO countries, “provides an adequate response” to the actions of the Russian Federation in the Kaliningrad region. This was announced by the Republic’s Deputy Minister of National Defense, Wojciech Skurkiewicz, on Saturday, August 20.
Commenting on the deployment of Russian fighters with hypersonic missiles “Dagger” in the westernmost region of the Russian Federation, he noted that Warsaw “completely understands what is happening”:
Our actions in consultation with our allies and NATO headquarters will continue to be adequate and sufficient for the threats and actions carried out by the Russian Federation in the Kaliningrad region.”
said Skurkevich Polish Press Agency.
Deputy Head of the Ministry of Defense of Poland emphasized that cooperation is carried out within the framework of the North Atlantic Alliance. is the basis To ensure the security of Poland: in the event of a real threat, Article 5 of the NATO Charter, in which the formula “one for all and all for one” appears, will automatically be activated (an attack on one member state of the alliance is equivalent to an attack on all countries of the alliance – socialbites.ca ” ).
“These guarantees were and remain in effect, and the obligations in this regard are clearly stated by our partners: individual members of the alliance and US President Joe Biden,” Skurkevich said.
He also reminded that Warsaw has long strengthened NATO’s eastern flank: increasing the number of troops, holding exercises. The source said the NATO battle group is located in the eastern part of Poland and is under the command of the multinational “North-East” division.
We add that Russia is semi-exclave, since the Kaliningrad region does not have a common land border with its main territory, but is connected to it by sea. The region borders Poland in the south and Lithuania in the north and east.
Strengthening NATO’s eastern flank
In this context, the countries on the eastern flank of NATO are asking the USA speed up arms supply to themand also considers it necessary to expand the American military presence in the region, he writes. Washington post.
“As the United States and NATO send personnel and equipment to Eastern Europe in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, vulnerable allies such as Latvia are trying to strengthen their defenses, fearing the next attack,” the newspaper said. .
Countries closest to Russia, such as Ukraine, which is not a NATO member but considered a close partner of the alliance, say they desperately need more Western military assistance.
The publication further claims that the Biden administration has “promised to intensify exercises in the region to develop air defense capabilities and other vital combat skills, not only in Latvia, but also in other Baltic states and provinces within Russia’s reach.” soldier.”
What is known about “Daggers”
On 17 August, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that three MiG-31I aircraft with Kinzhal hypersonic missiles were transported to the Chkalovsk airfield in the Kaliningrad region “as part of additional strategic deterrence measures”.
Kinzhal is the latest Russian complex with hypersonic aerobalistic missiles. MiG-31K and MiG-31I fighter-interceptors were chosen as carriers of the complex.
The Kinzhal missile has low radar visibility and high maneuverability and is designed to destroy land and sea targets.
The speed of the rocket is 10 times the speed of sound, the range of destruction is more than 2 thousand km. The missile performs maneuvers in all parts of the trajectory, allowing it to overcome all air defense and missile defense systems. The complex is equipped with conventional and nuclear warheads. The mass of the warhead is 500 kg, it says TASS.
Kinzhal complexes have been on experimental combat duty in the RF Armed Forces since December 2017. Officially, the first combat use of these missiles took place on March 18. Special military operation in Ukraine.
How NATO is expanding
NATO is a military alliance whose organization forms a collective defense system. Countries wishing to join the bloc must meet certain requirements and go through a multi-step process that includes political dialogue and military integration.
The North Atlantic Alliance has already passed through seven phases of enlargement. With the unification of Germany in 1990, the territory of the alliance expanded into the former GDR territory. During the talks, it was claimed that a verbal agreement was reached not to expand NATO eastward. The existence of such an agreement (and subsequent violation by NATO) was announced by the Russian leadership, but was rejected by the alliance.
It should be noted that the process of Finland and Sweden’s accession to NATO is ongoing – relevant applications were submitted by Helsinki and Stockholm in the summer of 2022.
Sociological Services notes that most Russians have a negative attitude towards NATO. The prevailing view is that the accession of new countries to NATO poses a threat to Russia. About half of those surveyed agree with this. conflict in Ukraine It could turn into a conflict between the Russian Federation and the North Atlantic alliance. At the same time, a third of those surveyed agree that in the event of a military conflict with the West, Russian President Vladimir Putin may be the first to order the use of nuclear weapons.