In Defense Doctrine of Poland, Russia named as main destabilizing factor
The new Defense Concept of Poland emphasizes that Russia continues to violate international law, tries to destabilize surrounding countries and the West, and poses a threat to Poland, the countries of the region, and other states that are interested in a stable international system.
Of particular concern is the steady growth of military spending in Russia, the document said.
"Russia's ultimate goal remains the introduction of a new international system based on the so-called concept of ‘domination of super-states.’ We estimate that until 2032 Moscow will maintain an aggressive line in foreign policy and security policy. This poses a direct threat to Poland and other countries of the eastern flank of NATO, given the asymmetry of military potentials between Russia and the listed countries," the document says.
It is noted that "special concern" is caused by cases of Russia's use of its army for the implementation of political goals, examples of which are the war with Georgia in 2008 or the annexation of the Crimean peninsula and the attack on Ukraine in 2014.
"Russia is ready to destabilize the situation in other countries, questioning their territorial integrity, while violating international law," the concept says.
As stressed, Moscow often masks and conducts its actions "below the threshold of war".
"Initiation of a regional level conflict involving one or several NATO countries by Russia is a realistic prospect, and it is also possible it will provoke ancillary conflicts in different parts of the world in order to create new planes of pressure on the countries of the West," the concept paper emphasizes.
The document also notes that Russia simultaneously implements a broad program of technical modernization of its army, conducts intensive military exercises, and militarizes its society.
"Military expenditures represent a priority for it and will remain at a high level even with prolonged economic stagnation. Russian policy is closely linked to the operations of the Special Services; in particular, with their active operations (for example, disinformation being conducted against other countries)," the concept paper highlights.
It is also noted that Russia is trying to compensate for the asymmetry in the balance of forces with NATO through cyber-attacks and threats of the use of force against individual countries, notably tactical nuclear weapons.
At the end of April, the Center for Counteracting Russian Propaganda was established in Poland.