NATO sending out signal of solidarity: Polish president

Russia cannot be allowed to talk to NATO states from a position of strength, while the alliance should leave the door open for Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova to join, Duda told the PAP news agency.

“The Warsaw summit is of breakthrough significance. Our message to NATO from the very beginning was clear: in the face of the changing situation in the security environment in our part of the world, in Central and Eastern Europe it is necessary to strengthen the presence and potential of NATO,” Duda said.

“We have said from the outset that there is a need to strengthen the Baltic states and strengthen Poland in these terms through the presence of NATO forces in nations in Central and Eastern Europe.”

Asked if four battalions of a thousand soldiers each in Poland and the Baltic countries would be enough to deter Russia, Duda said: “This is above all a clear signal what the intentions of the Alliance are.

“It is above all a clear signal that the Alliance is tightly-knit, that the Alliance is effective, that the Alliance is able to make decisions and, above all, that it is cohesive, it is together, that it shows solidarity, that we are reacting to what is happening....

“One thing is the most important: that anyone who carries out an act of aggression on a country in which there are NATO troops will at the same time be carrying out an act of aggression on all countries.”

Asked if NATO should expand further, Duda said: “In my opinion, the Alliance should above all maintain an open-door policy. You cannot say that the North Atlantic Alliance is already full and therefore no other nation will join.”

He added: “I also believe that NATO should support and leave the door open for Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova. Of course, these processes may be very far-reaching in terms of the timeframe, but closing the door to NATO would be a very bad signal.” (pk)

Source: PAP