Poland Deploys 5,000 Military Personnel for Border Management Assistance
In a move aimed at addressing rising concerns about irregular migration, Poland has announced it will increase border controls with Germany and Lithuania from July 7th. The decision, made by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, comes in response to heightened migration tensions, particularly with Germany, where new Chancellor Friedrich Merz has adopted a tougher migration policy.
The new controls, described as temporary and not involving "full border checks," are designed to limit disruption while addressing concerns about migration. Tusk also indicated that Poland would act if it perceived that Germany was sending irregular migrants back into Poland or if there was a risk of illegal border crossings from Lithuania.
Germany has been conducting random checks at the Polish border since October 2023, with Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt ordering more intensive border controls in May 2023. The Polish army is playing a significant role in these measures, deploying 5,000 soldiers. However, the specific soldiers directly participating in the German-Polish border controls have not been specified.
The Polish army has been assisting the border guard in securing the border with Belarus for an unspecified duration. This eastern border has been made "airtight" with a high fence and surveillance systems to deter irregular migration into the EU. During these controls, the Polish air force will monitor border areas using drones, although the role of the air force in the German-Polish border controls is not yet clear.
Soldiers not directly involved in border control will handle tasks such as leadership, logistics, training, and operation security. It's worth noting that, in securing the border with Belarus, soldiers primarily from volunteer reserve units and the military police have been directly participating in border guard controls.
Asylum seekers can potentially be rejected at the border under German instructions in the future. However, Poland has not provided specific details about the number of soldiers involved in the German-Polish border controls. The decision to temporarily introduce border controls at the German-Polish border is part of a broader strategy to maintain control over migration within the European free travel zone.
The temporary border controls announced by Poland with Germany and Lithania on July 7th are influenced by both general-news and politics, as they aim to manage irregular migration within the European free travel zone. Germany's tougher migration policy and increased border checks, coupled with Poland's concerns about potential irregular migrants from Lithuania, have led to this decision.
