Poland plans to lay one million mines on border

Poland plans to lay up to one million anti-personnel mines along its eastern border as part of a new defense initiative called East Shield. This decision comes from the Polish government amid concerns about security threats from Russia and Belarus. Deputy Defense Minister Paweł Bejda emphasized the seriousness of the situation at the border in a recent interview. Poland is withdrawing from the Ottawa Convention, which bans the production and use of these mines. Bejda explained that Poland does not currently have any mines, but they will produce them domestically with the help of the state-owned PGZ Group. He mentioned that Poland might need between several hundred thousand and one million mines, with the withdrawal from the treaty potentially taking nine months. Poland and its Baltic allies, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, made a joint statement supporting their decision. They believe it is essential to provide their defense forces with more options to protect the eastern part of NATO. In addition, Bejda commented on the importance of including Europe in diplomatic talks between the U.S. and Russia. He stated that European nations must have a voice in discussions about security on the continent. Poland is also expanding its military capabilities. They plan to acquire additional K2 tanks, with negotiations ongoing to transfer technology and modernize these vehicles. The Polish Army is also focusing on integrating drones and utilizing 3D printing technology for quicker production. A new team dedicated to this “dronization” effort started work on March 18.