As [reported](https://pl.euronews.com/europa/2026/09/10/kosiniak-kamysz-jezeli-zostalyby-zaatakowane-panstwa-baltyckie-polska-zawnioskuje-o-urucho?utm_source=chatgpt.com) by Euronews Polska, the statement was made on September 10 at the XXXV Economic Forum in Karpacz. The head of the Polish Ministry of Defense acknowledged that the scenario of a possible Russian attack on the Baltic states is being discussed more frequently in public, and emphasized that Warsaw's response in such a case would be unequivocal. > "If I am the Minister of Defense at that time, I will address the Council of Ministers, the government, and the president with a proposal for Poland to be the first to come to aid, invoking Article 5, with all the consequences for the Republic of Poland and Polish society," said Kosiniak-Kamysz. The minister explained this position by the security interests of Poland itself. According to him, a refusal to help its closest allies would mean losing a region that is crucial for Poland, after which Warsaw itself might soon need NATO's assistance. > "If we do not do this, we will lose this region. And if we lose this region, we will very soon be asking for help ourselves, because we will have to invoke Article 5 for ourselves," Euronews quotes the minister as saying. Kosiniak-Kamysz specifically responded to a question about the direct involvement of Polish soldiers in the defense of allies. > "To put it briefly: Polish soldiers will definitely engage in action in the event of an attack on another allied country. We will initiate the invocation of Article 5. The tasks will be determined by the commander of the NATO joint forces," said the Minister of Defense. He added that allies should assist each other on a bilateral basis, even if for some reason the mechanism of Article 5 is not activated. Kosiniak-Kamysz's statement was a reaction to the words of former Polish Minister of Defense Mariusz Błaszczak. Earlier, in response to a question about a possible Russian attack on Estonia, Latvia, or Lithuania, he stated that "Polish soldiers should defend Poland." The current Minister of Defense strongly disagreed with this position. He reminded that Polish soldiers are already in Latvia, where they are part of the Canadian-led multinational NATO contingent. "If someone questions whether we will help, then how can we expect help from others?" said Kosiniak-Kamysz. Thus, the head of the Polish Ministry of Defense made it clear that Warsaw considers the security of the Baltic states to be directly linked to the security of Poland itself. In the event of an attack on Latvia, Lithuania, or Estonia, the Polish leadership intends to seek the application of NATO's Article 5, and Polish military personnel, according to the minister, will participate in the defense of allies.
