Joanna Miziołek, “Wprost”: Will no American soldier leave Poland? Can you give the Prime Minister specified a warrant today?
Władysław Kosiniak-Kamish: I can say what he said publically to me and president Andrzej Duda Secretary of defence Pete Hegseth during a visit to Poland. He would like more American soldiers in Poland. And of course, all minute that the fresh administration comes is simply a time to verify the provisions of the predecessors. But Poland is an example country for allies erstwhile it comes to the level of expenditure on arms, that is, all the things that president Trump's administration says about. May I remind you that there are 85,000 American soldiers in Europe. About 10 1000 in Poland, 37 1000 in Germany, 13 1000 in Italy.
The image of American soldiers leaving Jasionka did not look good. It was not known by Polish soldiers, local governments.
It's not a substance of our soldiers, it's an American intelligence decision. You can't decide an army of another country.
I, too, would not want decisions about Polish troops to be announced by anyone another than me. Allies reserve the right to inform about their activities. Let's not anticipate to make decisions for them.
Couldn't they have been warned by soldiers, local governments?
Nope. I've been twice in Hawks and I informed at press conferences that the hub was no longer a bilateral mission of the USA and Poland. It is simply a NATO mission and changes will so be made. As of December, there are no American Patriots and soldiers who served them in Jasionka. I spoke of this officially in the presence of president Rzeszów. We were communicating about it the way we could communicate. We were asked by partners from the United States not to inform about the transfer from Jasionka until their message. If I did, I dare say that American troops would not stay in Poland.
Where are American soldiers moving from Jasionka?
We've identified respective locations. A large American base is, among others, in Powidz.
You say that the number of American soldiers in Poland may increase. How many?
I would like, although the planet is dynamic and the decisions are so fast and volatile from the American side that any situations are not predictable.
The situation is dynamic due to the unpredictability of the president of the United States. Can the situation with US troops in Poland change by customs war?
I'm taking it calmly.
I remember the detonation of emotion on the first of March erstwhile the gathering of Volodymyr Zelenski and Doand Trump took place. And after that meeting, we thought it was over. That everything turned upside down, that the planet changed its paradigms. And after the next 2 weeks, an American-Ukrainian mineral agreement was ready.
Are American arms purchases unwavering? "We learn from the German press that MON can cancel US arms contracts," wrote Mariusz Błaszczak, citing an article from the German paper "TAZ".
Tell me which contract?
Mariusz Błaszczak talks about F-35 fighters, Patriot anti-aircraft defence system, Abrams tanks, Apache helicopters, Himars launchers.
That's everybody. After this speech by Mr Błaszczak, 5 days later we signed another agreement with the Americans. 2 billion dollars to support the air defence strategy in the Vistula programme, which means Patriots.
So the force makes sense?
We found something important, a hidden German option in the PiS. These are thesis and sources of information from Marius Błaszczak. I think the president of the Law and Justice should be informed.
Are Korean contracts unwavering too?
All those that have been yet signed are implemented. I even print in the media information about the transportation of another Korean equipment, which creates frustration for Mr. Mariusz Błaszczak and his team.
It is simply a bit sad that the erstwhile defence minister is not satisfied that the defence budget is the biggest in history, that it is 50 billion bigger than in the erstwhile government. We have not broken any contracts he has concluded, unlike his predecessor, Mr. Antoni Macierewicz. They are suffering from the constant improvement of our army, which is already over 200 thousand. It's very sad, due to the fact that their political interests have clouded the safety of our country.
What weapons will scope Poland in 2025?
American equipment, including Abrams, will be the first Apache. He'll be getting equipment from our allies in Sweden. Armatohaubice K-9 or K-2 tanks from Korea will arrive. We besides usage our weapons industry, the Badgers, the Rosomaks, the Crabs. I hope all deliveries are timely. That's the biggest problem in the armory.
What is the cooperation with the Polish arms industry?
It takes quite a few change. 8 years of our predecessors have been completely wasted. They didn't even leave a large ammunition factory.
It was in a way granted by erstwhile Deputy Minister of Defence in those governments by Michał Dworczyk.
I value that honesty. This all the more confirms my explanation that Mr. Mariusz Błaszczak has no good intentions, not only in relation to today's government, but besides to our military.
We're building a munitions factory, we've adopted a strategical investment bill to PZZ She was not addicted only to the Polish army, but to have contractors around the world.
With respect to the ammunition factory, it was the decision made by Mateusz Morawiecki at the end of the PiS rule.
He adopted an Ammunition Resolution, of which I made 80 percent of the procurement of ammunition. But for the construction and strategy to build an ammunition mill in Poland, they had no idea. It is only our Ammunition Act last December that speaks not only about the money that needs to be directed towards this, but besides about the establishment of a nitrocellulose mill in agreement with the Azotas. We signed an agreement with Slovakia. We want to fund PGZ. All of this gives serious chances that the ammunition mill will yet be built. This is simply a fewer plants that not only are expected to make ammunition cal.155, but besides have all the elements to produce it. This production isn't that hard. But as it turns out, she's been besides hard on our predecessors for years.
Where did we get the ammo so far?
PGZ bought the components, components and folded it herself. And we want the Group to become independent so that we can produce and buy everything at home.
You besides want 4 billion from the government on the Red Road. Where do you get that kind of money?
I spoke to the finance minister, showing the large importance of the Red Way. In 2017, we received information from Americans about this crucial investment. The erstwhile government has not made this decision, I think we should make it. After all, the anticipation of shifting KPO funds for defense.
If we are talking about KPO, do you support the European thought of creating a transnational agency to acquisition military equipment?
Everything depends on the expression in which it will function.
If the agency is gonna aid our army get the equipment they want, I'm in.
The opposition accuses you of giving up your national competences in this way. due to the fact that how will the European agency know what Poland needs for equipment.
If this is simply a joint execution of our contract with the countries that are on the east flank of NATO, why not. If the equipment goes to the Polish Army, the alliance will be stronger. But of course, it cannot be that only the agency in Brussels will decide that it will buy specified equipment for Poland and specified equipment. It will first indicate what they request and then their coalitions. I am already after talking to the Baltic and Romanian countries.
Will the creation of a European agency not be a competition for NATO?
NATO doesn't buy equipment. To be more secure, we want NATO to build a pipeline from western Germany to Poland and later to the Baltic States. There's no competition here. Of course, there are NATO-wish investments, specified as the NATO-Ukraine centre, which was located in Poland. This is NATO reinforcement, due to the fact that the equipment goes to countries that are in the alliance. I think our PiS opponents have chosen the worst way to separate themselves from us. They effort to say that as Europe spends more on arms, it builds The Shield of the East, transfers money to the arms manufacture and so will be weaker than stronger?! That's absurd. NATO will be stronger, due to the fact that the countries belonging to the European Union are mostly NATO-native countries.
Do you think the prosecution charges against your predecessor for disclosing secret papers on the defence of Poland on the Vistula line are legitimate?
One thing is amazing that, since our political opponents felt that the papers were shameful, why did they respond in the eighth year of government, in the election run alternatively than in the first months? I say this not to make their communicative credible, but to show hypocrisy and lies. If it was so bad, why didn't they change it for 8 years?
You think it's good that Mariusz Błaszczak has been charged?
I believe that it has acted against our country and our security.
What are the talks between Ukrainians and Americans today?
I don't think there's any problem with contacts between Americans and Ukrainians right now. The question is why Russia has waited so long to answer. A period has passed since the peace proposal was issued, but Kiev has been attacked, and now tragic, beastly attack on Sumy. You can see that Russia doesn't want peace. Russian laziness should origin serious concern in Americans.
Are we ready for war? We left the Ottawa Convention.
It gets better all day.
The exit from the Ottawa Convention was 1 of the crucial decisions taken jointly with the Baltic States. We cannot have a corset that prevents us from utilizing all possible defenses. I know there are protests.
That the usage of anti-personnel mines is inhumane.
Inhuman and inhuman is what Russia did to Ukraine in Bucza. We have an enemy on the another side. The most interesting thing is that the Russian Federation, which was never a organization to this convention, shows the top outrage from withdrawing from the Ottawa Convention of Poland!
Are you going to military training?
Which one?
Maybe the 1 he was on. Rafał Trzaskowski?
There'll be more training. We announce “education with the army”, or soldiers in schools. We have “warks with the army”. There is besides a ‘train with the army’ to be enrolled all weekend. Since the fresh year, the largest program of universal, voluntary defence training in Poland has been launched.
How do I get into training?
All you gotta do is enter the app, give age, gender, profession, health. After further questions there will be training proposals. For you, it is best to train for 3 days, which will teach civilian protection, first aid or emergency behaviour. individual who wants another training than strictly military can choose others. We will besides build a base of military skills. Because, for example, IT will be much more useful for cyber defence than for conventional combat.
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