Poland deploys troops to German border
(MENAFN) Poland has sent 700 troops to its western border and is prepared to deploy up to 5,000 additional personnel to curb illegal migration from Germany and Lithuania, officials announced on Monday.
“We are taking firm action to address migration threats,” Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz stated on X, highlighting the military’s growing role in border security. The move follows Poland’s decision last week to reinstate border controls, which will remain in place at least through August 5.
Polish authorities have accused Germany of returning asylum seekers to Polish territory, a claim that has intensified domestic pressure. In response, local groups have organized “citizen patrols” to intercept eastward migrant movements.
Currently, 65 checkpoints have been established, many operating 24/7, leading officials to request more manpower under what the military is calling “Operation Secure West.” According to Polska Zbrojna, the Defense Ministry’s magazine, the deployment includes 500 soldiers from the Territorial Defense Forces, 200 military police, and around 800 Border Guard agents. An additional 300 civilian police officers are also involved.
On Monday morning, an Estonian citizen was reportedly caught attempting to smuggle four individuals into Poland from Lithuania.
Migration remains a contentious issue in Germany, where the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has gained popularity by criticizing Berlin’s immigration policies. Poland and other Eastern European countries have accused Germany of using its influence in the EU to promote pro-migration policies via Brussels.
Although Poland, Germany, and Lithuania are part of the Schengen Area, which allows for passport-free travel, countries can temporarily restore border checks during times of crisis, a provision invoked more frequently since the 2015 migration surge.
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