Poland’s Security Policy
a short overview
Marek
M
k Madej
M d j
Introductory remarks
• Poland – medium-size, democratic Western country
• Comprehensive
p
definition of securityy (hard
(
and soft,,
military and non-military aspects of security), but in
security policy focus on hard, traditional issues
• Focus on regional problems: Europe, esp. Eastern part
(incl. CIS and Balkans); Middle East and Central Asia
• Two main multilateral pillars of Polish security policy:
NATO (member since 1999), EU (member since 2004)
• Other
Oth tools:
t l regional
i l andd sub-regional
b
i l structures
t t
(OSCE,
(OSCE
Visegrad Four, Weimar Triangle), bilateral ties
(particularly with the US)
• General internal consensus over Polish security policy
Polish assessment of current security
environment
• Generally positive picture – Poland was never as secure as
it is today
• Low risk of traditional armed aggression
• Possibility of political/economic pressure (part.
(part Russian
context)  growing rank attached to energy security
• Potentially negative impact of unresolved conflicts in the
neighborhood or adjacent regions; authoritarian regimes;
(small) risk of state failure
• Transnational threats/challenges – terrorism, TOC,
pandemics, massive immigration (but rather moderate/low
i
intensity
i off the
h threat/challenge)
h
/ h ll
)
• Global challenges – particularly ecological and economic
di
dimensions
i
(climate
( li t change,
h
resource scarcity,
it economic
i
crises) – long term issues or wild cards
NATO – role in Polish security policy
• Main instrument in traditional security sphere (military,
hard security)
• Primary function: collective defense (art. 5 of Washington
Treaty)
– Deterrence (dissuasion)
– Defense in case of conflict/other contingencies
• Forum of transatlantic strategic dialogue (consultations on
security issues)
• Regional
R i l andd (selectively)
( l i l ) global
l b l security
i provider
id (out
(
off
area missions, enlargement, cooperation)
• Platform of political dialogue and security cooperation
with other countries and organizations
• Catalyst of internal reforms,
reforms mainly – but not exclusively –
of Polish armed forces
NATO – current operational
p
engagement
g g
• Objectives of engagement in out of area missions:
– strengthening
h i
off NATO cohesion
h i
andd capabilities
bili i
(”investment in NATO”)
– stabilization
stabili ation of international environment,
en ironment defense of
security interests of Poland or allies, humanitarian
reasons, international responsibilities
• Current engagement:
– ISAF (Afghanistan) – ca.
ca 2600 men,
men Ghazni province
(East), no caveats
– KFOR – ca. 230 men ((but soon less than 200))
– Other - NTM-Iraq (15-20 men), Active Endeavour
(Mediterranean Sea), Air Policing (periodically, Baltic
states)
Vision of future
(new NATO strategic concept)
• Primacy of Alliance traditional tasks (collective defense):
emphasis on reassurance (adequate defense planning,
planning
development of NATO infrastructure and capabilities, training
and exercise)
• Operations out of area – selective engagement, focus on EuroAtlantic zone, principle of comprehensive approach (complex,
not solely military solutions,
solutions cooperation with other partners)
• Non-military aspects of security (i.e. ecological, energy,
cybersecurity)
y
y) – cautious,, pprudent approach,
pp
, engagement
g g
cannot
limit NATO capabilities to perform traditional tasks
• Partnerships, dialogue and cooperation – focus on Euro-Atlantic
partners, emphasis
h i on importance
i
off NATO-EU
A O
cooperation,
i
support for balanced and mutually beneficial cooperation with
Russia
uss a
• Strong support for NATO open door policy
EU – role in Polish security policy
• Most comprehensive tool of Polish security policy
• Main instrument in non-military aspects of that policy:
– incentive for internal development (incl. UE funds)
– augmenting Polish ability to influence (”force multiplier”)
• Common Foreign and Security Policy = broader perspective and
more profound impact on Polish diplomatic efforts (including
relations with Russia)
• EU membership – enhancement of Poland’s international
pposition
• Key tool in context of energy security, significant in arms
control and disarmament
• Crucial role in cooperation on internal security (including fight
against terrorism and international crime - TOC)
• Special role of Common Security and Defense Policy
• Polish presidency in 2011 – CSDP = one of the priorities
Poland and CSDP
•
•
•
•
Polish vision of CSDP:
– complementary with NATO (synergy)
– unique value – civilian crisis management capabilities and ability
to execute comprehensive approach
– current role: CSDP – supportive tool for Common Foreign and
Security Policy  stabilization and humanitarian mission, crisis
management, NOT collective defense (but possible in future)
id
off Polish
P li h supportt for
f integration
i t
ti
– evidence
Operational engagement: Bosnia (ca. 150 soldiers), EULEX (Kosovo,
policemen,, civilian experts),
p
p ), Georgia
g (EUMM
(
– ca. 15 observers))
Capabilities development:
– Battle Groups (first in 2010 – Pol., Ger, Lit. Lat. Slk.; next in
2013 2017)
2013-2017)
– Chobielin Initiative
Significant engagement in European Defense Agency (cooperation of
defense industries and on military procurement )
Other instruments
•
•
•
•
•
UN - currently secondary role (until 2009/2010 – significant
engagement in peacekeeping operations); focus on global challenges
(arms control and disarmament,
disarmament ecological security,
security food security,
security
migrations, inter-cultural dialogue etc)
OSCE – focus on soft security, particularly on democratization, human
rights (ODIHR – headquarters in Warsaw); issues of arms control and
disarmament (CFE and Confidence and Security Building Measures);
Pan-European
p
forum of security
y consultations;; support
pp for maintaining
g
current structure (skepticism toward Russian proposal of New Security
Architecture in Europe)
Sub regional structures – complementary for NATO and EU
Sub-regional
cooperation; more intensive cooperation on selected issues
International arms control regimes
Bilateral ties
– US – currently rather instrument of strengthening transatlantic ties
than separate pillar of Polish Security Policy
– other – strategic partnerships (France, Germany, Ukraine)