Poland intends to finalize the construction of a fortified border wall along its eastern frontier with Belarus by mid-2025, aiming to curb the flow of migrants.
Warsaw has accused Russia and Belarus of orchestrating the migration as part of a "hybrid warfare" strategy, Financial Times reported.
Deputy Minister for Migration Maciej Dusić stated that the additional work on the 400-kilometer border is on track for completion by mid-2025. He assured that the new infrastructure would bring the security level at the border to "nearly 100%."
Background of the Border Crisis
Construction of the border wall initially began in late 2021 after Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko facilitated the movement of thousands of migrants to the Polish border.
Many of these migrants traveled from the Middle East and Africa via direct flights to Moscow or Minsk and were subsequently transported to border areas.
Under Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who assumed office in 2023, reinforcing border security has been prioritized.
Expanded Security Measures
The project includes advanced measures such as night vision cameras, thermal imaging systems, and new patrol roads. The five-meter steel fence, erected in 2022, is also being strengthened.
The total cost of the border security initiative is estimated to exceed 2.5 billion zlotys (around 587 million euros), with half of the funding allocated from the current government budget.
Dusić stated that the migration route, described as artificially engineered, would be effectively shut down by next summer. However, he warned of potential escalation attempts by Lukashenko, including efforts to sabotage the enhanced border infrastructure.
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski recently commented on the economic and social implications of potentially closing border crossings with Belarus. His remarks followed the fatal stabbing of a Polish soldier during a surge of migrants at the border, an incident Sikorski attributed to coordinated actions by Russian and Belarusian authorities.
