Polish MoD pledges to deploy more troops to Latvia
Warsaw will boost the number of its troops stationed in Latvia, the Polish defence ministry has said, adding that the two states would jointly invest in the arms industry.
Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said on Thursday that Latvia will see the deployment of over 40 servicepeople specialising in chemical forces.
"The entire military contingent in Latvia will reach a total of 300 personnel," he added during a press conference following talks with his Latvian counterpart, Andris Spruds.
Currently, the Polish military mission in Latvia comprises around 190 military personnel.
The statement came after Kosiniak-Kamysz arrived in Latvia, which took place a day after the country's parliament endorsed withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention, an international treaty prohibiting its signatories from using anti-personnel landmines. The Polish official announced that similar steps are being prepared by the Polish government.
"Together with the Baltic states and with Finland recently taking the same path, the whole NATO eastern flank north of Poland is taking this decision," the defence chief said.
According to Kosiniak-Kamysz, the Baltic Sentry initiative should be transitioned to a permanent operational level, supported by foreign assistance from states not bordering the Baltic Sea.
"We want to establish a NATO-level algorithm of actions to counter the activities of the shadow fleet and to take action against ships and vessels that pose a threat to critical infrastructure," the defence minister added. (PAP)
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