Poland to invest $2.5 billion to fortify borders with Russia, Belarus

Poland will invest about $2.5 billion to strengthen the borders with Russia and Belarus, according to an announcement by Prime Minister Donald Tusk. The Polish government plans to allocate 10 billion zlotys (approximately $2.5 billion) to enhance border security through the “Shield-East” project, which has already commenced.

Prime Minister Tusk emphasized that Poland, situated on the eastern flank of NATO and the European Union, bears a responsibility for the security of the entire continent, particularly during the ongoing conflict in Eastern Europe. Russia and Belarus are viewed as significant threats to European stability, he said. 

As part of the border fortification efforts, additional engineering systems and fortifications will be constructed to prevent potential invasions. While specific details were not provided, the Belarusian state TV channel ОНТ reported that the Polish military is currently focusing on strengthening maritime borders, including the installation of surveillance cameras and electronic motion sensors on rivers and lakes along the Poland-Belarus border.

This initiative is not Poland’s first measure to bolster its border security. In 2021, the government allocated nearly $400 million to build a 502-kilometer dam along the Belarusian border. This response followed an influx of thousands of migrants from Africa and the Middle East, whom Poland accused the Belarusian regime of facilitating to destabilize the European Union.