The Polish, Lithuanian and Latvian ministers of defense observed the Silver Arrow 21 military exercises in Latvia together, with Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Błaszczak also visiting the Polish military contingent at the base in Adazi.
Błaszczak declared that Poland and the Baltic states are dealing with aggressive Russian policy and pointed to the Russian attacks on Georgia and Ukraine. He added that the countries were consistently strengthening their interoperability and were cooperating.
“This is especially important in the context of the joint Russian and Belarussian military Zapad-2021 exercises which overlap with Belarus’ attempt to create a migration crisis,” he said. The minister noted that Poland, Lithuania and Latvia were all dealing with the same kind of hybrid attack and must respond to the threat.
The Polish ministry of national defense shared photos from Błaszczak’s meeting with both the Baltic state defense ministers and Polish soldiers, along with the message: “We work together to ensure the region’s security.”
Additionally, the ministry revealed the details of the Polish participation in the Silver Arrow exercises.
“Since Sept. 2 in Latvia, the international Silver Arrow military exercises are underway. 150 soldiers from the 17th Greater Poland Mechanized Brigade are participating in it. Polish soldiers are equipped with the self-propelled M120 Rak guns and Rosomak transporters.”
Błaszczak also noted that in 2015, migrants had reached Western Europe through a route running through the south of the continent; today, Belarus is attempting to open another migrant route and Poland is opposing those efforts.
