PM joint statement with Prime Minister Donald Tusk of Poland: 23 April 2024
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak makes a speech during his visit to Poland.
Well Donald, thanks very much 바카라 사이트� it바카라 사이트檚 great to be here with you.聽
And I바카라 사이트檝e come directly from visiting British troops stationed in North East Poland바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트here they serve alongside your聽Polish Armed Forces, guarding聽NATO바카라 사이트檚 eastern flank.
And it is a reminder of the incredible strength of our relationship.
We are바카라 사이트� sojusznicy na zawsze.
Allies for the long term.
We will never forget in Britain that it was Polish pilots that gave their lives to protect our country in the Battle of Britain.
And today we바카라 사이트檙e proud to stand together as NATO allies바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트wo of Europe바카라 사이트檚 biggest military powers바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트� two of Ukraine바카라 사이트檚 firmest friends.
And Donald, I want to thank you 바카라 사이트� and President Duda - for your leadership in supporting Ukraine.聽
We have stood beside them for two years바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트ut this is the moment for us, militarily, to go further.
And today I have announced a further half a billion pounds of additional support for Ukraine바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트o provide more help on the battlefield and defend against the relentless Russian bombardment.
And together we call on all our聽partners to look again at what more they can do.
That includes acting now to unlock Russia바카라 사이트檚 frozen assets, which you and I have discussed.聽
And I also want to thank you聽for being so clear sighted on the rising threats that are facing our continent.
And again, on this issue we바카라 사이트檙e of one mind.
And today I announced an historic uplift in UK defence spending to meet those threats바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트o a new baseline of 2.5% of GDP.聽
It바카라 사이트檚 the biggest strengthening of our national defence since the end of the Cold War.
Because it바카라 사이트檚 time for us to re-arm.聽
And across Europe, I think Poland and the UK are part of a growing wave of countries that are taking聽greater responsibility for our collective security.聽
Poland is spending more of its GDP on defence than any NATO ally in Europe.聽
And with today바카라 사이트檚 announcement, the UK will be spending more in cash terms than any NATO ally in Europe.聽
And together we바카라 사이트檙e both firing up our defence industrial capacity.聽
We바카라 사이트檙e building new frigates here in Poland.聽
And as you said we바카라 사이트檙e 聽delivering a next generation air defence system to help defend your skies.
And as a result of our conversations I am pleased to say we have strengthened our cooperation in all the different formats so that we can work together on this crucial issue of air defence.
I can also announce that next year we will be deploying RAF Typhoons here as well, emphasising how important we take this issue 바카라 사이트� and we want to help police Poland바카라 사이트檚 skies.
Air defence is critical and the UK wants to support Poland and work closely with you to do that.
We바카라 사이트檙e also deploying over 16,000 troops here as part of the NATO exercise Steadfast Defender.
So I바카라 사이트檓 proud that the UK is a partner of Poland and remains at the heart of European security.
Because that바카라 사이트檚 good for our shared security, and it바카라 사이트檚 also good for our prosperity.
I was pleased to note that our trade has doubled over the last few years reaching now 拢30bn.聽
UK firms are investing a lot in Poland in defence, healthcare, infrastructure, and again today we talked about deepening our energy partnership 바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트� And I바카라 사이트檓 glad that we바카라 사이트檝e tripled聽UK export finance 바카라 사이트� support for Polish companies to buy goods and services from the UK from 拢5bn to 拢15bn in financial support. That바카라 사이트檚 the most generous offer to made to any partner.
And again is demonstration of our close cooperation.
And as you said we바카라 사이트檙e also working together to tackle illegal migration 바카라 사이트� which Putin and Lukashenko have sought to weaponise.
And that바카라 사이트檚 why we sent our Royal Engineers to help secure your border.
And why we바카라 사이트檙e joining forces with others across Europe to smash the trafficking gangs.
And there is, as you said, so much that unites us.
And there is an incredible affinity between our peoples.
But, I know Donald, from our conversations, that we have something else in common바카라 사이트β�
바카라 사이트hat we are united by our admiration for one of Europe바카라 사이트檚 great leaders.
I바카라 사이트檓 talking of course about Margaret Thatcher.
She was the first British Prime Minister to visit Poland back in 1988.
But Donald knows that, because you were there to meet her at the聽Gda艅sk shipyard!聽
Just to conclude, in her speech during that visit she described, precisely,聽the challenge before us today.
She said: 바카라 사이트渆xperience teaches us that freedom incurs responsibility.바카라 사이트�
And as ever, she was right.
And I바카라 사이트檓 pleased that together we are meeting that responsibility.聽
Thank you very much.