Poland Proposes Shield-East Initiative to Strengthen Eastern Front with Belarus

Warsaw: Defense officials in NATO member Poland presented plans on Monday for fortifying its eastern border with Moscow ally Belarus. The government says that Poland, which supports Ukraine in its defence against Russia’s aggression, is being targeted by hostile actions from Russia and Belarus. These include cyberattacks, attempted arson, and migrants being pushed illegally across the border, which officials describe as intended to destabilize the European Union, of which Poland is a member.

Belarus and Poland share a common border approximately 418 kilometres long, which is the European Union’s external border. This border also splits the primaeval Białowieża Forest between Belarusian and Polish national parks. According to the 1999 Belarus Census, Poles make up 3.9% of the population of Belarus, reflecting historical ties between the two nations.  

Defense Minister Outlines Security Measures 

The government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk has planned a range of security measures including in cyberspace, as well as some $2.5 billion investment into eastern border security, known as Shield-East. He said last week that work on the shield has begun. Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz and the armed forces chief of staff, Gen. Wiesław Kukuła, are presenting the details of the border protection enhancement, including modern blockades, fortifications, and surveillance that seek to deter any potential aggressor.

The Defense Ministry says the system will be an element of regional defence infrastructure built jointly with the Baltic states — Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia — that are also on NATO’s eastern flank. Shield-East will “significantly strengthen the nation’s resilience to military threats from the east, it will limit the mobility of the adversary’s troops while offering a greater freedom of action and survival to our own troops and to civilians,” the ministry said.  

Historical Context of Border Contention 

Poland’s previous right-wing government built a $400 million wall on the border with Belarus to halt a massive inflow of migrants that began to be pushed from that direction in 2021. The current pro-EU government says it needs to be strengthened. The three Baltic states were once part of the Soviet Union, while Poland was a satellite state of the USSR before the 1990s. Moscow still regards the area as within its sphere of interests.  

In January 2022, Poland started building a 5.5-meter (18-foot) high steel wall topped with barbed wire along the 187 km Belarus border, which was completed in June 2022. This development was part of a broader response to the heightened security situation following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.  

Violation of Polish Airspace by Belarusian Helicopters 

On August 1, 2023, a Belarusian Mi-8 and a Mi-24 helicopter reportedly flew just over 3 kilometres over Polish territory, reaching the town of Białowieża before turning back and flying over the village of Grudki. Initially, the Polish Ministry of National Defence denied the claims. A few days before this, Poland stated that they would send more troops to the border after Belarus taunted Poland over the Russian Wagner group.

Following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Polish government announced a major increase in funding for the Polish armed forces. Belarusian officials have expressed concerns about Poland's growing military capabilities and its strategic positioning in Eastern and Central Europe. Major-General Ruslan Kosygin of Belarus stated that Poland, supported by the US, positions itself as a leader in the region and may be used as a platform for conflicts against Russia and its allies.  

The Shield-East initiative hints at Poland's commitment to its national security amid escalating regional tensions. By integrating advanced technologies and enhancing physical defences, Poland aims to create a robust barrier against potential threats from the East. The collaboration with Baltic states further strengthens NATO's eastern flank, fostering a united front against any adversarial actions.