In a potential shift of strategy, Poland is considering the reopening of previously closed border crossings with Belarus, contingent upon certain concessions from the Belarusian government. The Deputy Minister of Interior and Administration, Maciej Wasik, revealed that this move could materialize if Belarus takes decisive actions concerning the Wagner group mercenaries and its existing migration policy.
The geopolitical context was underscored on Monday, as the situation in Belarus took center stage during discussions between Mariusz Kaminski, the Polish Minister of Interior and Administration, and his counterparts from the Baltic states – Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia.
Following the discussions held in Warsaw, Minister Kaminski affirmed that Poland would not hesitate to seal its border with Belarus in response to a “critical incident.” Even occurrences along the Belarusian borders shared with Lithuania and Latvia could trigger this response.
Maciej Wasik, expressing solidarity among interior ministers, emphasized, “The conclave of interior ministers underscored our commitment to unified and unanimous action along the Belarusian border.” In response to inquiries about the possibility of a comprehensive border closure with Belarus, Wasik stated, “Irrespective of whether the incident arises along the Polish, Latvian, or Lithuanian-Russian border, our reaction will mirror that of our neighboring countries.”
Wasik laid down clear conditions for Belarus to evade isolation. Notably, these entail the departure of the Wagner group mercenaries and a reevaluation of its current migration policy. “We are contemplating the potential reopening of select border crossings,” Wasik remarked. He cautioned that if Belarus fails to cooperate on these critical matters, neighboring nations could unanimously shutter all crossings – encompassing roads and railways. Consequently, Belarus might find itself effectively cut off from Europe.
Anticipating potential worst-case scenarios, Wasik stressed the importance of preparedness. He cited concerns about the deployment of Wagner mercenaries against border security forces. In response, Poland has currently deployed approximately 10,000 soldiers along its border. Among them, 4,000 are actively supporting the Border Guard’s ongoing operations, while the remaining 6,000 stand as reserves, ready to be mobilized if required.