The Poles will participate… finally!
(BRUSSELS2) It is in Poland's interest and it is a matter of strengthening the common European security and defense policy. It is in these terms that R. Sikorski, the Polish Foreign Minister, has just confirmed in Warsaw that Poland would participate in the European training mission for the Malian army (EUTM Mali). According to our information, Poland could thus provide in addition to its financial contribution (via the Athena budget), a dozen officers and soldiers. Poland was one of the only member countries of "Weimar" not to have confirmed, in an expressive or intuitive way, its participation in EUTM Mali. Even from a symbolic point of view. Apparently, the voice of political reason spoke more than military passion...
“The Poles will participate…eventually!” The title is not very nice for a people who have always defended freedoms, at home, in Europe (French resistance), in the United States (Kosciuszko) and more recently in Iraq. Sending instructors to train local troops is certainly a limited but highly symbolic act for the other European countries which have not yet done anything.
The question is not historical. But factual and current. Poland is a member of the Weimar Triangle. She signed a letter, participated in several meetings to strengthen the PeSDC. Today is a practical test. And Poland decides, at the last moment, to participate and again with lip service. It should also be noted that it does not take part in the EUNAVFOR Atalanta operation, whereas the “smaller” countries take part in it – Estonia, Malta for example. This fully deserves a three small points and a “finally”.
Dear Nicolas (first: sorry, but my French is not perfect…) I see that you are an expert on Poland, so maybe it's not for me to say it but… as a Pole and also a military journalist I would just like to point out two small things:
1) EUNAVFOR is a naval mission. Poland has just 1 vessel capable of operating further than the Baltic Sea: ORP “Xavery Czernicki”. He is permanently operative in various NATO missions. I guarantee you that if you buy us another ship capable of operating on the edge of Somalia, it will be deployed there.
2) Mali is not our business – it is France's business that we want to defend. The Polish Army is not a mercenary unit. So send your own soldiers to die there, not ours. For me, it couldn't be simpler than that.