Tag: POLAND

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Taiwan, Poland ink MoU to boost drone collaboration 

This collaboration underscores Taiwan’s ambition to become a key hub for drone production and innovation in the Asia-Pacific region…reports Asian Lite News

Taiwan’s government-backed drone supply chain alliance and the Polish-Taiwanese Chamber of Industry and Commerce signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Saturday, marking a significant step in advancing the global drone industry. 

This collaboration underscores Taiwan’s ambition to become a key hub for drone production and innovation in the Asia-Pacific region, Taiwan News reported. 

Poland is the second ally to join the alliance, following the United States. The Ministry of Economic Affairs emphasised the global trend of seeking partnerships beyond China in the rapidly expanding drone market. 

Chair Hu Kai-hung of the Taiwanese alliance highlighted the initiative’s strategic importance, stating, “The alliance is an important gateway for international companies seeking partnerships in Taiwan.” 

The Taiwanese drone industry has set ambitious goals, with President Lai Ching-te projecting the sector’s production value to reach NTD 30 billion (USD 922 million) by 2028, reported Taiwan News. 

The alliance plans to produce over 10,000 drones per month, cementing its role as the Asia-Pacific’s first drone supply chain hub. Hu further noted the synergy between Taiwan and Poland, asserting that the partnership “can combine their strengths to boost drone development and production.” 

Polish-Taiwanese Chamber of Industry and Commerce Chair Bartlomiej Dobosz welcomed the partnership, expressing Poland’s honour in joining the alliance. “We hope to foster a mutual exchange of technologies to advance drone development,” Dobosz stated, signalling a commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation in the technology sector. 

This agreement reflects Taiwan’s growing influence in the global drone market and its capacity to collaborate with international allies to achieve technological innovation and growth, Taiwan News reported. 

The alliance’s ongoing efforts demonstrate the strategic importance of fostering partnerships and diversifying supply chains in this pivotal industry. (ANI) 

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Blinken in Poland to seek common cause after Ukraine jitters

Blinken will meet separately in Warsaw with Prime Minister Donald Tusk and President Andrzej Duda, bitter rivals on the direction of the European Union member…reports Asian Lite News

Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday meets Poland’s leaders to forge common cause on Ukraine as upcoming US elections and Russian attacks raise new jitters.

The top US diplomat crossed into Poland by train after a joint solidarity trip to Kyiv with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, with the two pledging to swiftly review Ukraine’s requests for permission to strike deeper into Russia.

Blinken will meet separately in Warsaw with Prime Minister Donald Tusk and President Andrzej Duda, bitter rivals on the direction of the European Union member.

While split on domestic policy, Poland, with its dark historical memories of Moscow, has seen unity in backing Ukraine since its invasion by Russia in 2022.

Blinken hopes to use the final months of President Joe Biden’s administration to work with allies to ensure broad and sustained support for Ukraine, which has received billions of dollars in Western military and economic support.

The November 5 US election could dramatically shift the stance of Ukraine’s biggest backer, however, with Republican candidate Donald Trump declining to say in a debate on Tuesday whether he wants Ukraine to win.

Biden’s political heir Kamala Harris referenced Poland — and the Polish-American vote in the politically crucial state of Pennsylvania — as she vowed to keep up the fight for Ukraine.

If the United States had not backed Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin “would be sitting in Kyiv with his eyes on the rest of Europe,” Harris said.

“Why don’t you tell the 800,000 Polish-Americans right here in Pennsylvania how quickly you would give up for the sake of favor, and what you think is a friendship with what is known to be a dictator who would eat you for lunch?” she told Trump, referring to his past statements of admiration for Putin.

Poland, since the end of the Cold War an enthusiastic US ally, nonetheless sought to work with Trump during his 2017-2021 presidency.

Duda met with Trump in April in New York, and the two have praised each other’s records.

The European-oriented Tusk, who triumphed in elections last year, has spoken of restoring democracy after polarization, a key priority for Biden.

Biden this year welcomed Tusk and Duda jointly at the White House, hoping to send a signal of bipartisanship on Ukraine.

Tusk has not shied away from calling out members of Trump’s Republican Party who oppose assisting Ukraine.

During a long delay in Congress approving new military aid to Ukraine, Tusk said that Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson bore personal responsibility for “thousands of lives.”

Blinken is expected to discuss further coordination with Poland, the key logistical gateway for Western military support into Ukraine.

Poland has also ramped up purchases of US weapons since the invasion of Ukraine.

Poland last month signed a deal with Boeing to buy 96 Apache attack helicopters for $10 billion.

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Poland calls on EU to stress ties with US

The Kremlin has said it would not meddle in the November US election. It has also dismissed US allegations that it orchestrated campaigns to sway the 2016 and 2020 US presidential elections…reports Asian Lite News

Poland wants the European Union to launch a campaign in the United States to raise awareness with the American public about the importance of the joint relationship.

In a paper prepared for an EU foreign ministers’ meeting on Monday, Poland calls for positive action ahead of the US presidential election on Nov. 5 to counter what it describes as Russian “disinformation” aimed at sowing division between the EU and Washington.

“At this critical moment in history, it is imperative that we collectively take swift and robust action to strengthen the transatlantic relations through strategic communication about the EU in the US,” the paper, seen by Reuters, says.

It adds: “This means scaling up our de-bunking and, even more importantly, pre-bunking of Russian disinformation and launching campaigns which set the record straight about where Europe stands today and about the benefits of diplomacy, collective security and open society.”

The Kremlin has said it would not meddle in the November US election. It has also dismissed US allegations that it orchestrated campaigns to sway the 2016 and 2020 US presidential elections.

Poland’s paper said Russian state media and online accounts tied to the Kremlin were spreading and amplifying misleading content about US immigration and border security, misstating the impact of immigration, highlighting stories about crimes committed by immigrants, and warning of dire consequences if the US does not crack down at its border with Mexico.

“We should expect much more is to come, as eroding support for Ukraine remains Russia’s top priority. We need to remind the American public, especially the younger generation of the deliverables our decades-long partnership has brought to the US economy,” the paper said.

Poland has said it has been the target of numerous Russian attempts at destabilization and election interference because of its role in supplying military aid to its neighbor Ukraine, allegations Russia has dismissed.

“We should raise awareness among the American public about the size of European aid to Ukraine and how that effort helps save Ukrainian lives,” the Polish paper said in reference to claims by US presidential candidate Donald Trump that European aid to Ukraine was much smaller than that of the US

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the EU has provided 107 billion euros ($116.38 billion) to Ukraine and has agreed on a further 50 billion euros for the next four years.

The US Council on Foreign Relations estimates US support for Ukraine at $107 billion.

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‘France, Germany, Poland facing Russian disinformation attacks’

Jourova pointed out the role of the Telegram messaging app in spreading disinformation, especially in countries like Slovakia, Bulgaria, and the Baltic states…reports Asian Lite News

France, Germany, and Poland have become continuous targets for Russian disinformation attacks ahead of the European Parliament elections, according to EU commissioner Vera Jourova.

The European Union has issued multiple warnings about potential Russian disinformation campaigns in the 27-member bloc leading up to the June 6-9 vote, AFP reported.

Jourova, the commissioner for values and transparency, highlighted the work of the European Digital Media Observatory in identifying these targeted attacks.

She noted that Russia tailors its propaganda to exploit specific national concerns: in France, the focus is on the upcoming Paris Olympic Games; in Germany, the narratives center on migration and security issues; and in Poland, disinformation has portrayed Ukrainian refugees as a burden, according to AFP report.

A recent example of such disinformation is a false report on the Polish state news agency claiming that Poles would be mobilized to fight in Ukraine, which authorities attributed to a likely Russian cyberattack.

Jourova emphasized that Russian propaganda is highly sophisticated, targeting countries based on their unique vulnerabilities.

Additionally, Jourova pointed out the role of the Telegram messaging app in spreading disinformation, especially in countries like Slovakia, Bulgaria, and the Baltic states.

elegram currently does not have to adhere to the stringent rules of the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), which applies to platforms with at least 45 million monthly active users.

However, Telegram has reported having 42 million users, and the EU is closely monitoring this number.

Speaking to journalists in Brussels after a visit to the United States, where she met with executives from major tech companies like X and YouTube, Jourova called for heightened vigilance in the final days before the elections.

She reminded these companies of their obligations under the DSA to prevent the spread of disinformation.

Her comments coincided with a report from Microsoft’s Threat Analysis Center, which also noted an aggressive Russian disinformation campaign.

Microsoft President Brad Smith echoed Jourova’s concerns, highlighting the risk of deepfake technology being used by foreign governments to influence elections, it was reported.

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Medvedev Warns Poland Over Nuclear Weapon Remarks

Medvedev, during his time as president from 2008 to 2012, had been considered a key figure in liberal Russian policy…reports Asian Lite News

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has threatened Poland with the prospect of “radioactive ash” in response to remarks on the use of nuclear weapons from Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski over the weekend. Sikorski had earlier told British newspaper The Guardian how the US would purportedly react to a Russian use of nuclear weapons against Ukraine. “The Americans have told the Russians that if you explode a nuke, even if it doesn’t kill anybody, we will hit all your targets (positions) in Ukraine with conventional weapons, we’ll destroy all of them,” Sikorski told the paper.

Medvedev responded on the social network X by saying that the US had said nothing of the sort since “they are more cautious”. “Americans hitting our targets means starting a world war, and a foreign minister, even of a country like Poland should understand that,” the deputy head of the Russian Security Council wrote on Sunday. Polish President Andrzej Duda had asked for tactical nuclear weapons from the US to be stationed in Poland, Medvedev said. “Warsaw won’t be left out, and will surely get its share of radioactive ash. Is it what you really want?” Medvedev added. Duda had said in April that Poland, one of Ukraine’s strongest supporters, was prepared to accept NATO nuclear weapons as a counterweight to the deployment of Russian tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus.

Medvedev, during his time as president from 2008 to 2012, had been considered a key figure in liberal Russian policy. However since the all-out Russian invasion of Ukraine, he has become one of the biggest hardliners and routinely defends the war with inflammatory posts on social networks. Sikorski’s comments are likely to relate to events of late 2022. US media have repeatedly reported that the leadership in Washington had the impression at the time that Moscow could be preparing to use a tactical nuclear weapon in Ukraine. At that time, the Kremlin had reportedly been made to understand that the US would not respond with nuclear weapons, but with other powerful means.

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Poland, Ukraine Make Progress in Agricultural Imports Agreement Talks

Shmyhal hailed the talks as “constructive,” saying the two sides had made progress regarding lifting the border blockade…reports Asian Lite News

 Poland and Ukraine had moved a step forward in finding solutions on agricultural imports, the Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said after meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Denys Shmyhal.

He said on Thursday that the two governments were close to solutions on the number of agricultural products that can flow to Poland, Xinhua news agency reported.

He added that the issue of the transit of Ukrainian goods through Poland was also discussed to ensure the transit does not disrupt the Polish market.

Shmyhal hailed the talks as “constructive,” saying the two sides had made progress regarding lifting the border blockade.

He said that the Ukrainian government had suspended the granting of grain export licenses so that corn, rapeseed, sunflower, and wheat would not be exported to Poland.

“We do not issue such licenses now, we will issue them after consultation with the Polish government,” Shmyhal added.

Polish farmers have been staging protests against cheap agricultural imports from Ukraine by blocking border crossings and tensions have grown between Kiev and Warsaw. The new Polish government led by Tusk had pledged to solve the issue after it came into power last December.

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Poland Seeks Reinstatement of EU Curbs on Ukrainian Truckers

Ukraine’s border service said on Monday that the first 30 empty lorries had driven through a newly opened Uhryniv-Dolhobychuv crossing on the Ukrainian-Polish border…reports Asian Lite News

Poland is set to call for the European Commission to reinstate restrictions on Ukrainian trucks arriving at the country’s border, the government announced.

Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki will demand that the permit system for Ukrainian trucks passing through and arriving in Poland should be restored, in view of a month-long protest at the border, reports Xinhua news agency.

Polish drivers have been blocking border crossings since November 6, complaining that their business has been undercut by Ukrainian firms.

They want the European Union (EU) to reinstate commercial permits for Ukrainian companies to operate in the bloc, which were waived soon after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine.

The drivers also call for the suspension of operating permits for Ukrainian haulage firms, which were established after the beginning of the conflict.

“We will very strongly and unequivocally demand the restoration of transport permits for Ukrainian drivers,” Morawiecki told reporters.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s border service said on Monday that the first 30 empty lorries had driven through a newly opened Uhryniv-Dolhobychuv crossing on the Ukrainian-Polish border.

Kiev hopes this will provide some relief, with Polish driver protests blocking other land corridors.

The waiting time on Monday at the Hrebenne crossing was 10 days, with around 900 trucks stuck in a 70-km queue, the Polish Press Agency reported.

Meanwhile, around 520 trucks were waiting in another 16-km-long queue at the Dorohusk crossing, with a five-day clearance time, according to the police in Chelm, a city in southeastern Poland near the border with Ukraine.

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Poland Extends Border Controls with Slovakia to Stem Illegal Migration

People from Ukraine are seen at the border in Medyka, Poland, on Feb. 28, 2022. (Xinhua/Meng Dingbo/IANS)

Initially implemented for 10 days, the checks were subsequently extended for an additional 20 days until November 2, and later extended until November 22…reports Asian Lite News

Poland has announced an 11-day extension of temporary border controls with Slovakia, as outlined in a new regulation by the Interior Ministry which has already taken effect.

The controls include checks of “mini-vans, vans, passenger vehicles and coaches … suspected of carrying illegal migrants”, reports Xinhua news agency.

Originally implemented on October 4 under the Schengen Borders Code, these controls aimed to curb the influx of migrants entering Poland from Slovakia.

Initially implemented for 10 days, the checks were subsequently extended for an additional 20 days until November 2, and later extended until November 22.

According to the updated regulation, the border with Slovakia remains accessible at various road crossings, three rail crossings, and two pedestrian crossings.

Certain crossings that were formerly reserved for pedestrians are now open to passenger vehicles.

Poland and Slovakia share a 541 km-long border.

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Poland prohibits entry of Russian-registered passenger cars

UKRAINE-CRISIS/KYIV

These Baltic states are known for their strong criticism of Russia and its President, Vladimir Putin…reports Asian Lite News

Poland has initiated the enforcement of an EU directive that prohibits all Russian-registered passenger vehicles from entering the country, marking the latest addition to the array of sanctions against Russia, Al Jazeera reported.

According to the EU’s decision, motor vehicles bearing registration of the Russian Federation are now prohibited from accessing the territory of the 27-member bloc.

Polish Interior Minister Mariusz Kaminski, in an announcement on Saturday, stated, “A car registered in Russia has no right to enter Poland.” The ban officially came into effect at midnight.

Kaminski further explained, “This is another element of the sanctions imposed on Russia and its citizens in connection with the brutal war in Ukraine, due to the fact that the Russian state today constitutes a threat to international security,” according to Al Jazeera.

The decision came days after Baltic states including Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania banned vehicles with Russian license plates from entering their territory, a joint move in line with a recent interpretation of the European Union’s sanctions against Moscow over its war on Ukraine.

Estonia implemented this measure on Wednesday morning, aligning with similar actions taken by its southern neighbors Latvia and Lithuania earlier in the week. The decision made by these Baltic nations, all of which are NATO members sharing borders with Russia, is in response to the “additional interpretation of the sanctions imposed on the Russian Federation published by the European Commission” on September 8, Euro News reported.

In line with the EU’s decision, vehicles registered in the Russian Federation are now barred from entering the territory of the 27-member bloc, encompassing Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. These Baltic states are known for their strong criticism of Russia and its President, Vladimir Putin.

Estonian Interior Minister Lauri Laanemets emphasized, “The goal of the sanctions against Russia is to force the aggressor country to retreat to its borders,” Euro News reported. (ANI)

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US greenlights sale of Apache attack choppers to Poland

Boeing and Lockheed Martin have been named the principal contractors for the weapons….reports Asian Lite News

The US Department of State has approved the potential sale of Apache attack helicopters and related equipment to Poland for an estimated value of $12 billion, the Department of Defense said

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), an arm of the Pentagon responsible for providing military assistance to US allies, said in a statement that it “delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale” in light of the State Department’s determination, reports Xinhua news agency.

According to the DSCA, Poland has requested 96 Apache attack helicopters and related equipment, including 1,844 Hellfire missiles and 508 Stinger missiles, from the US.

Boeing and Lockheed Martin have been named the principal contractors for the weapons.

Despite the approval by the State Department, the DSCA’s notification to Congress does not guarantee the sale, nor does it indicate that a contract with the manufacturers has been signed, according to media reports.

Bordering Ukraine to the east, Poland has made boosting its national defense a priority since the Russia-Ukraine war broke out in February 2022. 

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