Minister Blair meets with Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz

December 18, 2023 – Warsaw, Poland – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

Today, the Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, met with his Polish counterpart, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.

Minister Blair thanked Deputy Prime Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz for Poland’s ongoing hospitality to Canadian Armed Forces members, who are training members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) on Polish soil under Operation UNIFIER. Since October 2022, Canada has deployed approximately 50 combat engineers to Poland to assist in the training of Ukrainian sappers. Since March 2023, CAF has deployed approximately 10 medical personnel to Poland as part of Polish-led medical training centered on advanced tactical medical skills and combat survivability.

By working together, Canada and Poland are helping Ukrainian troops to increase their military competencies. In Poland, the CAF is providing training on a range of basic and advanced engineering skills, including engineering reconnaissance, the use of explosives for demolition work, and demining; and teaching advanced tactical medical skills to bolster the Ukrainian military’s ability to save lives.

These ongoing training efforts build on the CAF’s deployment to Poland from April to July 2022, when up to 150 CAF members deployed to Poland and worked in reception centres operated by the Polish Territorial Defence Force, which coordinated the onward movement of Ukrainians refugees. Minister Blair also noted that the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) has transported over 14 million pounds of Ukraine-bound military aid donated by Canada and its allies and partners, and commended Poland for its collaboration.

Minister Blair reaffirmed Canada’s ironclad commitment to the NATO Alliance, and highlighted Canada’s continued efforts to strengthen NATO’s eastern flank – notably by leading the multinational enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) Battle Group in Latvia, which he just visited. Minister Blair thanked the Deputy Prime Minister for Poland’s contributions to this Battle Group, which is an example of NATO’s interoperability.