Deterring Russia is the main challenge facing the countries of the free world, and the only effective way to do this is to strengthen NATO’s eastern flank, said Poland’s defence minister on Friday.
Mariusz Blaszczak, during a joint press conference with his Lithuanian counterpart Arvydas Anusauskas at the third Lithuanian-Polish Council of Defense Ministers, in Lithuania, said that the main challenge facing the states of the free world was deterrence.
He pointed out that for deterrence to be effective, “the presence of NATO forces on the eastern flank must be increased and this presence must be permanent.”
“Russians have committed war crimes on the territories occupied by Russia, and such crimes should not be repeated anywhere else. And Russia should not be allowed to occupy other countries and destroy international order,” he said.
Min. @mblaszczak ??: Rosja popełniała i popełnia zbrodnie #Bucza. Obecność sił NATO na wschodniej flance musi być większa i stała.Dajemy duży wkład w działania zapewniające bezpieczeństwo ??&??, ale i NATO. Wzrost wydatków na obronność to wyzwanie,ale ono może odstraszyć agresora
— Ministerstwo Obrony Narodowej ?? (@MON_GOV_PL) May 13, 2022
He noted that countries such as Poland and Lithuania were not only the “recipients” of security but that they were also making a great contribution towards ensuring their security and the security of the entire alliance.
“The most important argument, in this respect, is to increase spending on security,” he added.