Defense: German military Bundeswehr supports Poland in protecting NATO's eastern border

German and Polish soldiers are working together to fortify Poland's eastern border with Russia's Kaliningrad exclave and Belarus. The project, called "Schutzschild Ost" or "Shield East", aims to secure around 250km of the border by the end of 2024 with concrete fortifications, electronic surveillance systems, and engineer equipment storage.

Around 40 German soldiers have been deployed since July to help build tank barriers and a anti-tank ditch, with their mission set to end in October. Poland's government says the country is now "safer than ever before" and will be able to lay mines along its border with Kaliningrad within 48 hours if needed, having withdrawn from the Ottawa Convention on landmines in 2026.