The United Kingdom has stepped in with reinforcements as Poland struggles to secure its border from an illegal migration influx supported by the Belarusian government.
Polish Minister of Defense Mariusz Błaszczak posted about the arrival of the UK soldiers on social media.
“Another group of British soldiers has landed in Poland today. They will help Polish soldiers in repairing and constructing a temporary barrier on the Polish-Belarusian border. A joint response to hybrid threats is an expression of our allied solidarity,” Błaszczak wrote on Twitter.
A week ago, the minister announced that British soldiers had begun preparations to support the Polish army on the border.
Polish President Andrzej Duda released an ordinance which permitted up to 155 British soldiers to reside in Poland. According to the permit, which will expire in April 2022, engineering and reconnaissance support may also be given by up to 150 soldiers from Estonia.
The military has been sent to the Polish-Belarusian border to support the Polish Border Guard. A ban on the presence of non-residents has been enacted in the 183 towns near the border until March 1, 2022. The restricted access was introduced after the expiration of the state of emergency.
Poland also plans to construct a permanent border wall. It will be 5 meters tall and its cost is estimated to be around €348.1 million. Of that,€323 million will be spent on construction work and the remaining €25 million will be used to purchase and install necessary equipment.
