In early September, Poland reported a major escalation in Russian drone activity, with 19 drones penetrating Polish airspace. In response, Warsaw initiated consultations under Article 4 of the NATO treaty, a rare move that signalled concern for the security of the entire Alliance. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney also made a high-profile visit to Warsaw, where he met with Polish leaders and issued a joint statement reaffirming Canada’s commitment to regional security and defence cooperation with Poland.
To unpack these latest developments as well as the Canada-Poland defence relationship we are joined by Polish ambassador to Canada, Witold Dzielski. Ambassador Dzielski discusses Poland’s response to Russia’s drone incursion and the broader NATO security implications, NATO’s adaptability to evolving threats, stressing the importance of political will and rapid response, the current Canada-Poland defense relationship, joint operations in Latvia and Ukraine, the outcomes from Prime Minister Carney’s recent visit to Warsaw, and suggests that Canada can draw valuable lessons from Poland’s military spending and defence reforms.
