DISINFO: Poland develops its army for agressive purposes
SUMMARY
Poland wants to be the leader of Eastern Europe in the confrontation with Russia. Warsaw has always had leadership ambitions in Eastern Europe, but it perceives leadership not as responsibility but as a tool of confrontation with Russia. Poland acts categorically and ruthlessly. It financed and provided resources of the radical opposition in Belarus. Over the years, it established coordination centres for the recently failed insurgency. The Poles behave as if Belarus was their land. They focused their activities on Russia and even Kazakhstan. Poland hopes for a rematch, so it hosts and supports escapees from Belarus. Warsaw realises an unprecedented militarisation of its state, planning to double the size of its military. This step is not taken for peaceful purposes.
RESPONSE
This message is a part of the Kremlin’s widespread disinformation narrative about aggressive and militaristic anti-Russian Poland.
The claim that Poland modernises and develops its Army because the Polish authorities want to use the Army for aggressive actions against Russia and Belarus is ungrounded. Poland is not involved in the alleged destabilisation of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan.
The Polish authorities have repeatedly stated that Poland is willing to improve its relations with Russia – on the condition that Russia starts observing the regulations of international law. In a statement of 21 December 2019, the Polish authorities reiterated their openness to continue the historical dialogue with Russia, for example, through restarting the work of the bilateral Group on Difficult Issues.
The ongoing modernisation of the Polish Army and purchases of advanced military equipment is a Polish response to the current security crisis taking place in Eastern Europe – this situation is a result of the Russian annexation of Crimea and military aggression against Ukraine in Donbas.
The 2020 National Security Strategy of Poland states that the most serious security threat for this country is the neo-imperial policy of the authorities of the Russian Federation, pursued by means of military force (aggression against Georgia, illegal annexation of Crimea and military actions in eastern Ukraine).
See other examples of similar messages claiming that constant intimidation with Russia is used to make Poland economically dependent on the USA, the Polish authorities created an insane hysteria of intimidation with Russia, used for the needs of domestic politics and The Polish authorities want to use the Army to fight domestic riots, not Russia.