President praises Polish troops at NATO drills near Russia

Polish President Karol Nawrocki has visited troops taking part in the Gallant Boar 2026 military exercise near the northeastern town of Orzysz, saying their service helps make Poland a responsible and reliable NATO ally.

Polish President Karol Nawrocki (centre).PAP/Tomasz Waszczuk

The June 16-26 exercise, held near the strategically important Suwałki Gap linking Poland and Lithuania, involves forces from both countries, Polish state news agency PAP reported.

The Operational Command of Poland’s Armed Forces has said that about 6,500 Polish troops are participating.

„Professionalism, determination and readiness to act. This is the Poland demonstrated today by the soldiers taking part in Gallant Boar 2026,” Nawrocki wrote on X after meeting troops at the training range on Wednesday.

„Thanks to their daily service, Poland is a responsible and credible NATO ally, ready not only to benefit from the alliance’s security but also to help build it together with our partners,” he added.

Bartosz Grodecki, head of Nawrocki’s National Security Bureau (BBN), told reporters that the president had observed both offensive and defensive military tactics during the exercise and reviewed the capabilities of the Polish armed forces.

The drills are also intended to test unmanned aerial systems and the integration of new technologies and innovative military solutions, Grodecki said.

He noted the significance of the exercise’s location near Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave, describing the proximity of the heavily militarized region as an important factor in planning such maneuvers.

Grodecki said Nawrocki had also inspected military equipment recently acquired by the Polish armed forces.

According to the president’s office, the visit was aimed at reviewing the progress of the exercise and meeting Polish and Lithuanian soldiers participating in the drills.

The exercise involves units primarily from Poland’s 16th Mechanized Division, Territorial Defense Forces, Air Force and Airborne Forces, the PAP news agency reported.

The participation of a Lithuanian military contingent highlights allied cooperation and efforts to strengthen security on NATO’s eastern flank, the president’s office said.

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Source: IAR, PAP

Radio Poland