Poland deploys 1,000 troops along eastern border
Poland accused Belarus of creating a fabricated refugee crisis since 2021 "by flying in people from the Middle East and Africa and attempting to push them across the frontier."
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Defense Minister of Poland Mariusz Blaszczak answers questions to media after signing an air policing treaty at an airshow in Malacky, Slovakia, Aug. 27, 2022. (AP)
According to Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak, Poland has begun deploying over 1,000 troops on its eastern border, claiming concerns over the presence of Wagner fighters in neighboring Belarus.
In a Twitter post, Blaszczak announced that "Over 1,000 soldiers and almost 200 units of equipment from the 12th and 17th Mechanized Brigades are starting to move to the east of the country," explaining that this was "a demonstration of our readiness to respond to attempts at destabilization near the border of our country."
Read more: US to take action against Wagner in Africa: State Dept
Western media outlets linked the announcement to the reported presence of some Wagner militants in neighboring Belarus, noting that Poland announced last week that it would send 500 police to beef up security along its border with Belarus.
Poland also alleged there was an increase in refugees attempting to enter the Belarus border in recent weeks, claiming that over 200 persons attempted to cross illegally in recent days, including Moroccan, Indian, and Ethiopian nationals.
Poland accused Belarus of creating a fabricated refugee crisis since 2021 "by flying in people from the Middle East and Africa and attempting to push them across the frontier."
This comes as after Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced that Poland wanted to host US nuclear weapons in response to Belarus hosting nuclear weapons for Russia.
The former President of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev, says that if the US grants Poland's request for nuclear weapons, a nuclear war might break out.
“The final decision will depend on our American and NATO partners. We declare our will to act quickly in this matter,” Morawiecki announced.
Three weeks ago, Alexander Lukashenko announced that Belarus will have "no hesitation" to employ nuclear weapons in case aggression is perpetrated against the country.
The NATO Nuclear Sharing Program, which began in 2009, has seen US B-61 nuclear weapons placed in various places around Europe.
The Russian leader explained then that this move will be similar to the United States' deployment of some of its nuclear arsenal in Europe, further noting that Russia's action does not violate the nuclear nonproliferation agreements (NPT).
