Poland and Norway stress joint security interests
PR dla Zagranicy
Jo Harper
02.09.2015 08:20
New threats require changes in NATO, adapting the alliance to new challenges. These should be the subject of next year's summit in Warsaw, visiting Norwegian defence minister said.
Minister of Defence of Norway Ine Eriksen (L) Soreide and Minister od Defence of Poland. Photo: PAP/Michał Walczak
The Minister of Defence of Norway Ine Eriksen Soreide was speaking at the opening of an arms fair in Kielce, south central Poland.
Opening the 23rd International Defence Industry Fair, Poland's Defence Minister Tomasz Siemoniak stressed that Poland and Norway had been looking at joint security issues.
"Russia has shown willingness and ability to use military force to achieve its strategic objectives," Soreide said.
Both also pointed to the danger posed in the south of Europe by the actions of the so-called Islamic State in Syria and Iraq.
"This instability threatens not only the region, but Europe as a whole," the Norwegian Minister of Defence said.
Siemoniak recalled the recent celebration in the Norwegian port town of Narvik commemorating the anniversary of the WWII battle with the participation of Polish soldiers. The minister also spoke of joint ventures in NATO.
"Norway is a very valuable partner, a so-called old member of NATO++, but with similar sensitivity as Poland on security issues," the minister said.
He recalled that the government and the parliament had decided to increase defence spending to at least two percent of GDP. "We want to spend our taxpayers' money on the best equipment, we have increased confidence in our defence industry," he said. (jh/rk)