Poland and Germany bolster eastern NATO border as migrant crossings surge

Poland is intensifying defence infrastructure on its eastern frontier under the “Shield East” programme, with German Bundeswehr engineering troops working alongside Polish forces. Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak‑Kamysz and deputy defence chief Cezary Tomczyk highlighted the cooperation as a concrete example of NATO readiness, noting that the German unit provides training and engineering support without combat duties. The temporary deployment is expected to continue through future rotations.

At the same time, the Poland‑Belarus border has seen around 30,000 attempted illegal crossings in 2024, largely by migrants from the Middle East and Africa. Volunteer groups supply clothing and food, while Polish authorities report over 7,000 push‑back actions in the first half of the year and deny asylum to those intercepted, framing the flow as a hybrid security threat. Prime Minister Donald Tusk has linked the situation to broader geopolitical tensions involving Belarus and Russia.