Right next to the place of our meeting, there is the most crucial logistics hub for the protection of independency and democracy in Ukraine – in these words, the legislature of safety of Poland Konrad Fijołek, president of Rzeszów, started. “This is where the discussion on the safety of our country is so important,” said 1 of the conference organizers.
Congress safety of Poland is simply a nationwide forum devoted to the most crucial challenges facing the national safety strategy in conditions of dynamic geopolitical, technological and social changes. The current edition takes place on 11-12 June at ZEN.COM Expo in Rzeszów-Jasionka, adjacent to the airport, which plays a key function in the transfer of military support to Ukraine.
Ministers – safety pioneers
The Council of the Programme legislature is chaired by the National Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz. The Forum's first programme provided for the presence of the Deputy Prime Minister, however, due to today's Exposé head of government and voting on a vote of assurance for the cabinet – he could not attend the event. So the organizers read a letter from the head of the MON.
"Security of Poland and its citizens is simply a process that requires continuous commitment from many actors," wrote Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz. "I thank the organizers and legislature participants for their comprehensive approach to the subject and for their willingness to share your knowledge, experience and insights. This is an crucial broad forum where representatives of the expert community, public administration and local authorities, uniformed services, NGOs and private companies curious in safety issues can meet," the Deputy Prime Minister argued. The head of the MON besides thanked him for his title of safety Pioneer, which he received for "consistently strengthening the possible of the armed forces". Krzysztof Gawkowski, the Minister of Digitization, was awarded the discrimination for building the digital resilience of the state.
Air advantage or grey zone
After the authoritative part, thematic panels began, 1 of which was devoted to the improvement of the national arms industry, besides in the context of cooperation with the United States. – I am a product of American professional military education – 1 of the panelists, Gen. Div. Pil. Cezary Wiśniewski, deputy commander-general of types of armed forces at the outset. – I like the USA, American technology, I saw with my own eyes the large intellectual change that took place in the air force after buying F-16. I think it is in our interest to proceed working with the United States," he added.
The General referred to II of the Republic of Poland and its independent capacity to safeguard the needs of the aviation industry, both in the area of production and training. “Today we do not have specified opportunities as then”, he said and stressed the request to keep good relations with the US. – In the meantime, without winning an advantage in the air, in a possible conflict we will deal with the situation as in Ukraine. With a fewer kilometers grey region dominated by drones, where the fight is very brutal and hard for soldiers – he observed.
Acquisition F-35 according to Gen. Dyw. Pil. Wiśniewski 1 of the guarantors of gaining this advantage. – Super crucial decision – he argued.
Another panelist, Brig. Gen. Dr. Artur Kuptel, Head of the Armed Forces Agency, spoke about legal and organizational aspects of arms acquisition from the US. He mentioned weaknesses and advantages of circumstantial solutions and stressed that options related to lending our purchases by the United States government are little costly for the Polish budget than e.g. issuance of bonds. The Head of the Armed Forces Agency besides pointed out the frequently overlooked financial aspect of acquiring fresh weapons by the media. “What we spend on buying is usually 20-30% of all life-cycle costs of circumstantial equipment,” he calculated and stressed, that many years of operation are not only additional expenditures, but besides the request to choice reliable suppliers.
– We have nothing to be ashamed of – said General Jarosław Kraszewski, associate of the board of RBL Defence Polska. “We make many different solutions, besides attractive to Americans,” he assured and pointed out as an example the Avalon cylindrical drone system. The opinion of good Polish-American cooperation was confirmed by Tony Housh, president of the Board of Directors of the American Chamber of Commerce in Poland. Dr Grzegorz Krzeszowski, a political scientist from WSPiA Rzeszów Higher School, outlined geographical and geopolitical realities – in his opinion Poland's position makes it a key partner for the US, and the importance of our country in the future will only grow.
Energy, dual-use and more
On the first day of the congress, experts besides discussed the financing of defence projects, the prevention of misinformation and the function of local governments and services in crisis management. Public-private cooperation on e-security, including protecting citizens' digital identity, was an crucial topic.
The second day of the legislature will open the subject of protection of critical infrastructure, then the issues of safety of communication and telecommunications, resilience of the financial sector and integration of dual-use technologies (double civilian and military applications). The discussions will further focus on energy safety and the improvement of the possible of the aviation sector.
Speakers included Major General Karol Molenda, Head of Cyberspace defence Army, Maciej Lasek, State Secretary, Government typical for Central Communication Port, Rafał Rosiński, Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Digitization, Renata Gruszczyńska, president of the Board, manager of the Mesko Ammunition-Rakite Group and Jan Rajchel, president of the Government strategical Reserve Agency.
The main strategical partner of the legislature is Asseco and the co-organiser of the city of Rzeszów. The “Polish Armed Forces” editorial is 1 of the media patrons of the conference.
