Poland's prime minister visits defensive fortifications on border with Russia

DABROWKA, Poland (AP) — Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk traveled Saturday to his country's border with the Russian region of Kaliningrad to inspect progress in the construction of military fortifications along the eastern frontier, calling it "an investment in peace."

Tusk’s visit comes a month before Poland is to take over the rotating presidency of the 27-member European Union. Polish officials say their priority is to urge Europeans to beef up defenses at a time of Russian aggression and with change coming soon in Washington. Some European leaders are concerned that the incoming administration of Donald Trump might be less committed to Europe’s defense.

Tusk also proposed this week that Poland and the Nordic and Baltic countries carry out joint navy patrols in the strategically important Baltic Sea, following the suspected sabotage of undersea data cables.

Poland's government and army began building the system dubbed East Shield this year. It will eventually include approximately 800 kilometers (500 miles) along the Polish borders with Russia and Belarus, at a time when Western officials accuse Russia of waging hybrid attacks against the West that include sabotage, the weaponization of migration, disinformation and other hostile measures.

“The better the Polish border is guarded, the more difficult it is to access for those with bad intentions,” Tusk said at a news conference near the village of Dabrowka as he stood in front of concrete anti-tank barriers.

Poland has been at the mercy of aggressive neighbors over the past centuries and has become a leading European voice for security at a time when France and Germany are weakened by internal political problems. Poland aims to spend 4.7% of its gross domestic product on defense next year, making it one of NATO's leaders in defense spending.

Tusk's government estimates that the strategic military project will cost at least 10 billion zlotys ($2.5 billion). Poland’s borders with Russia, Belarus — as well as Ukraine — are the easternmost external borders of both the European Union and NATO.

Tusk said he expected the East Shield to eventually be expanded to protect the small Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

“Everything we are doing here — and we will also be doing this on the border with Belarus and Ukraine — is to deter and discourage a potential aggressor, which is why it is truly an investment in peace," Tusk said. “We will spend billions of zlotys on this, but right now the whole of Europe is observing these investments and our actions with great satisfaction and will support them if necessary.”

Tusk did not elaborate on his plans for reinforcing the border with Ukraine, a close ally.

Along the frontier, anti-tank barriers known as “hedgehogs” will be integrated with natural barriers like ditches. Tusk said parts of the project are not visible to the naked eye, but it is nonetheless the largest project of its nature in Europe since the end of World War II.

The plans also include the construction of threat reconnaissance and detection systems, forward bases, logistics hubs, warehouses and the deployment of anti-drone systems, the state news agency PAP reported.

Gera reported from Warsaw.

Concrete barriers that are part of Poland's East Shield fortification at Poland's border with Russia in Dabrowka, Poland, on Saturday Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Concrete barriers that are part of Poland's East Shield fortification at Poland's border with Russia in Dabrowka, Poland, on Saturday Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

A Polish soldier at Poland's border with Russia in Dabrowka, Poland, on Saturday Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

A Polish soldier at Poland's border with Russia in Dabrowka, Poland, on Saturday Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Concrete barriers that are part of Poland's East Shield fortification at Poland's border with Russia in Dabrowka, Poland, on Saturday Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

A Polish soldier at Poland's border with Russia in Dabrowka, Poland, on Saturday Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

A Polish soldier at Poland's border with Russia in Dabrowka, Poland, on Saturday Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Concrete barriers that are part of Poland's East Shield fortification at Poland's border with Russia in Dabrowka, Poland, on Saturday Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Concrete barriers that are part of Poland's East Shield fortification at Poland's border with Russia in Dabrowka, Poland, on Saturday Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Concrete barriers that are part of Poland's East Shield fortification at Poland's border with Russia in Dabrowka, Poland, on Saturday Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk speaks to reporters in Dabrowka, Poland, during a visit to Poland's border with Russia on Saturday Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Concrete barriers that are part of Poland's East Shield fortification at Poland's border with Russia in Dabrowka, Poland, on Saturday Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk speaks to reporters in Dabrowka, Poland, during a visit to Poland's border with Russia on Saturday Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk, left, and Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson sign an agreement during Thursday's summit at Harpsund in Flen, Sweden, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (Henrik Montgomery/TT News Agency via AP)

LJUBLJANA, Slovenia (AP) — Slovenia’s parliament on Friday appointed right-wing populist politician Janez Jansa as the new prime minister, in a shift for the small European Union country that was previously run by a liberal government.

Lawmakers backed Jansa in a 51-36 vote in the 90-member assembly. The new prime minister will need to come back to Parliament within the next 15 days for another vote to confirm his future Cabinet.

Jansa's appointment concludes a postelection stalemate in Slovenia after a parliamentary ballot two months ago ended practically in a tie. Former liberal Prime Minister Robert Golob's Freedom Movement won by a thin margin but he was unable to muster a parliamentary majority.

Jansa and his populist Slovenian Democratic Party signed a coalition agreement this week with several right-wing groups. The new government also has the backing of a nonestablishment Truth party that first emerged as an anti-vaccination movement during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The new term in office will be the fourth for the veteran Slovenian politician. Jansa, 67, is an admirer of U.S. President Donald Trump and was a close ally of former populist Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who was defeated in a landslide election last month.

Jansa in a speech listed the economy, fight against corruption and red tape, and decentralization as key goals of the future government. He has promised to lower taxes for the rich and support private education and healthcare.

Critical of the previous government's alleged “inefficiency," Jansa said the new government will turn Slovenia into “a country of opportunity, prosperity and justice, where each responsible citizen will feel safe and accepted."

Like Orban, Jansa was staunchly anti-immigrant during the huge migration wave to Europe in 2015. Also like Orban, Jansa has faced accusations of clamping down on democratic institutions and press freedoms during a previous term in 2020-2022. This led to protests at the time, and scrutiny from the European Union.

Golob in his speech described Jansa as “the greatest threat to Slovenia’s sovereignty and democracy."

Alleging that Jansa had threatened to arrest him, Golob said Jansa's "idea of democracy is that anyone who dares speak a word against you deserves only the worst.”

Jansa, a supporter of Israel, also has been a stern critic of the Golob government's 2024 recognition of a Palestinian state.

The vote on March 22 was marred by allegations of foreign influence and corruption. The around 2 million people in the Alpine nation are deeply divided between liberals and conservatives.

Janez Jansa, center, addresses the Slovenian Parliament during a session in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Friday, May 22, 2026, before appointing him as prime minister, ending a political deadlock after tight elections in March. (AP Photo/Igor Kupljenik)

Janez Jansa arrives for a session of the Slovenian Parliament in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Friday, May 22, 2026, before appointing him as prime minister, ending a political deadlock after tight elections in March. (AP Photo/Igor Kupljenik)

Janez Jansa addresses the Slovenian Parliament during a session in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Friday, May 22, 2026, before appointing him as prime minister, ending a political deadlock after tight elections in March. (AP Photo/Igor Kupljenik)