WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk visited the authoritarian state’s border with Belarus, which is also the European Union’s outer border, on Saturday and vowed to do more to strengthen security across its eastern border. .
Tusk accused Russia’s ally Belarus of intensifying what he called a “hybrid war” against the West by encouraging migrants to try to cross into the EU. He vowed that Poland would spare no expense in guarding its borders.
“We know that illegal border crossings are increasing day by day,” Tusk told reporters at the border, where he met Polish soldiers, border guards and police. He also mentioned the “growing threats posed by the Russo-Ukrainian war, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the uncertain geopolitical situation.”
Tusk’s border visit is his first since taking office in December and comes after a Polish judge defected to Belarus this month. He has claimed to be persecuted in democratic Poland, but authorities have denounced him as a traitor and is being investigated for espionage.
Mr Tusk took office on behalf of a national conservative party at odds with the EU over rule of law issues. When its Law and Justice party first came to power in 2015, it took a strong stance on immigration, at odds with other European allies.
But since then, the overall mood towards immigration has turned grim across Europe. Although Tusk has avoided some of the harsh anti-immigrant rhetoric of his predecessors, he too opposes unregulated immigration.
“This is not only Poland’s internal border, but also the border of the European Union. Therefore, by investing in the security of eastern Poland’s borders and borders, all of Europe needs to invest in the security of Europe as a whole. I have no doubt, and I am confident that we can achieve it,” Tusk said.
Asymmetric war: EU accuses Belarus of attacking EU with migrants https://t.co/qnkPXzCtNL
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) August 20, 2021
He added that he had declared to the commanders of the border security forces that “there are no limits on resources when it comes to the security of Poland.”
The trip comes weeks before next month’s European Parliament elections, where Mr Tusk intends to send a message to voters that his party, Citizens United, supports border security and supports local uniformed police officers. it seems like.
“I have come today primarily to ensure that both the commander and his subordinates have no doubt that the Polish nation and the Polish government are on our side in all situations here on the border.” he said.
A crisis erupted along the EU’s eastern border with Belarus in 2021, when large numbers of migrants began arriving from the Middle East and Africa. The European Union has accused Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko of encouraging immigration with the aim of destabilizing the bloc after imposing sanctions on the country over an election widely seen as fraudulent.
Poland’s previous government responded to the crisis by building tall steel walls.
Exclusive: “Borders of Democracy” – Lithuanian MP talks about why the country is building a wall to stop illegal immigrants https://t.co/tMMzppTziz
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) August 15, 2021
