It’s needed, the government in Warsaw says, because Russia and Belarus are waging a particular kind of hybrid warfare: helping groups of migrants — mostly from Africa or the Middle East — to break through the border to provoke and destabilize Poland and the rest of Europe.

Poland plans a 600-kilometre military defence line along its borders with Belarus and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad by 2028. The ‘East Shield’ will be equipped with anti-tank trenches, concrete barriers,

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has said that protecting borders is a 'sacred duty', but humanitarian organisations have expressed concerns. #EuropeNews

Difficult times require bold decisions [and] leadership. We call on our allies to follow this lead,” says Baltic nation’s Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys.

Ukraine enhances border security with Belarus through the "Safe Border" initiative, focusing on fortifications and surveillance for effective threat response.

According to Politico, Poland plans to allocate 4.7% of its GDP to defense this year—the highest within NATO—and intends to increase this amount in subsequent years. Lithuania’s recent decision, however, makes it the first country to fully meet Trump’s proposed threshold.

Polish border guards look east into Belarus at the crossing point Połowce-Pieszczatka in Polowce, Poland on Jan 16. (AP)

The alliance has stepped up intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance activities around the Baltic Sea amid concerns of Russian gray zone warfare.