Russian-U.S. collusion? What about Russian-Polish war?
Connor Boulet, Staff Writer
Photo courtesy of Pixabay
The U.S. is not the only country Russia seems to have their eyes on. Since the summer of 2016, tensions between Russia and Poland have been high, due to Vladimir Putin’s militarization efforts close to the Polish border. Then-President Obama considered the matter concerning enough that he deployed 1,000 troops in the area.
The Polish fear Russia is interested in reclaiming eastern European territory they held back in the Soviet era. Although Poland has dreaded Russia’s looming military threat for over a year now, the latter have yet to make a decisive move.
Regardless, Poland is well-equipped to defend themselves. Although the country no longer mandates military conscription, the possibility that Russia may invade triggered a rush of patriotic fervor in the citizens of the country. Those interested in joining the resistance against Russian oppression enter the militia group known as the Riflemen’s Association. The Polish government, interested in being safe in the worst-case scenario of an all-out-war, has shown nothing but support for these concerned Polish citizens.
Even a year later, tensions run high. The discussion of whether Poland meddled in the United States election likely made the paranoid in Poland even more so.
On November 17, 2017, Poland found more reason to brace themselves against Russian forces. Polish and Russian media aligned with Russian nationalistic interests rushed to the defense of an ousted Russian spy who had been deported from Poland. Sources such as the Russian Institute for Strategic Studies lambasted the decision, proclaiming the removal to be “anti-Russia provocation”.
For Poland, however, an indirect threat to their livelihood exists for Russia to exploit. Ukraine, a nation on Poland’s eastern border, has the potential to be a valuable ally to the nation. However, a vast exodus from Ukraine to Poland due to Russian intimidation could collapse Poland’s economic structure.
With no end in sight, Polish citizens can only pray day after day that Russia never takes more than a passing interest in their country’s resources.
