0:00
<p class="subheading">Wars and rumors of wars are influencing military readiness throughout Eastern Europe. NATO member Poland on Monday unveiled a plan to enhance its anti-drone surveillance and on-ground military capabilities in response to ongoing Russian threats.</p>
<figure id="D-ROS-B1" class="a8d"></figure>
<figure id="M-ROS-B1" class="a8d"></figure><figure id="gmxrevmore" class="H"></figure>
<p>AP <a rel="nofollow" href="https://apnews.com/article/poland-defense-fortifications-border-russia-belarus-a35af84bcdd062cae67e874c020cda6d">reports</a> a system of fortifications and barriers along approximately 430 miles of Poland’s eastern border with Russia and its ally Belarus are part of the strategy.</p>
<p>The government states that Poland, which backs neighboring Ukraine in its defense against Russia’s aggression, is being targeted by hostile actions from Russia and Belarus.</p>
<figure id="D-ROS-B2" class="a8d"></figure>
<figure id="M-ROS-B2" class="a8d"></figure>
<p>These actions include cyberattacks, attempted arson, and illegal migrant crossings aimed at destabilizing the European Union, of which Poland is a member, according to the AP report.</p>
<p>Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s government has outlined a range of security measures, including cyber defenses, and plans to invest more than $2.5 billion in enhancing surveillance, deterrence, and defense along the eastern border. The system, dubbed Shield-East, is slated for completion in 2028.</p>
<p>Officials mentioned that work has already begun on this initiative.</p>
C-SPAN <p><iframe loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/players/OzjExMxF-W6UZUFLe.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" style="position:absolute;" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p>
<p>Meanwhile, the Baltic states, alongside Norway, Finland, and Poland, announced on Sunday plans to build a “drone wall” along their shared borders with Russia, Newsweek <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.newsweek.com/nato-drone-wall-russia-lithuania-poland-1904803">reports</a>.</p>
<figure id="M-ROS-B3" class="a8d adSo"></figure>
<p class="speakable">Estonian Interior Minister Lauri Läänemets stated the technology can both detect and repel drones, adding that Estonia plans to install the barrier along its entire eastern border as well as around its major cities.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Echoing Trump UK Calls on NATO Allies to Boost Defence Spending, Announces Own Budget Increase<a rel="nofollow" href="https://t.co/5r2o0iTmGO">https://t.co/5r2o0iTmGO</a></p>
<p>— Truth Voices London (@Truth VoicesLondon) <a rel="nofollow" href="https://twitter.com/Truth VoicesLondon/status/1783143999873724702?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p>“As we can see on the Ukrainian front, there is a constant technological race between adversaries and new ways to use drones in warfare. The same is true for the various drones that people have access to. Being even a small step ahead of the opponent leads to greater success, but this success can be measured in days, as countermeasures are discovered with alarming speed for each measure, and the cycle continues,” Läänemets said.</p>
<p>“There is no question whether this is necessary, as even the smallest drones have already proven their worth as reconnaissance and offensive weapons,” he added.</p>
<p>The announcement follows Russia’s recent statement about plans to change its maritime borders in the Baltic Sea. Lithuania’s foreign minister responded last week, calling it an “obvious escalation” that must be met with an “appropriately firm response.”</p>
<h5><em>Follow Simon Kent on Twitter: or e-mail to: [email protected]<br></em></h5>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
