Poland in talks with allies on protecting EU borders

Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski held talks with the heads of diplomacy of Finland – Elina Valtonen, Denmark – Lars Løkke Rasmussen and Turkey – Hakanen Fidan on protecting the borders of the European Union. The parties also spoke about issues related to NATO security – said the Polish Foreign Ministry.

The situation on the borders of the European Union is still turbulent, and a new flashpoint is the Russian-Finnish border, which is being stormed by immigrants brought by Russian services in order to destabilize the internal situation in Finland. Poland has experienced a similar situation when the border with Belarus in 2021 was stormed by immigrants from the Middle East and Africa.

According to the Polish Foreign Ministry, in a telephone conversation with Finnish minister Elina Valtonen, the need to develop NATO’s capabilities and the European Union’s resilience to modern security threats was particularly emphasized. Another important topic was border protection, which has been a challenge for Poland for many months, and in recent weeks has also been a significant problem on Finland’s eastern border. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasizes that Poland and Finland see the potential for cooperation to continue supporting the struggling Ukraine. In connection with Finland joining NATO in April 2023, the interlocutors expressed satisfaction with the prospect of deeper relations in the context of the Alliance, both bilateral and regional.

During the conversation between Minister Sikorski and the Turkish Foreign Minister, the parties welcomed the very good state of Polish-Turkish relations and the commitment to building a dialogue based on partnership. Radosław Sikorski and Hakan Fidan agreed on the importance of cooperation between Poland and Turkey in the area of security, economic cooperation and global challenges. They also expressed confidence that Warsaw and Ankara shared a common care for the future of the North Atlantic Alliance. The Polish Foreign Ministry stressed that the conversation was also an opportunity to discuss the state of EU-Turkey relations, and minister Sikorski stressed Poland’s unwavering support for Turkey’s European perspective.

In turn, the talks with Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen confirmed the parties’ mutual openness to close cooperation, both in the bilateral format and in the forums of regional and international organizations. The Polish Foreign Ministry notes that both countries attach particular importance to cooperation in the field of security, which in the context of the consequences of the Russian invasion of Ukraine has acquired a strategic character. One of the most pressing challenges in the near future remains multidimensional support for Ukraine, including in the field of military equipment and its reconstruction after the end of the war.

Ministry Of Foreign Affairs / Jacek Perzyński