Poland Deploys Army to Strengthen Border With Germany and Lithuania

Poland has deployed military personnel to strengthen its border with Germany and Lithuania in order to “control migrant flows and enhance security.”

The National Security Bureau of Poland reported on this.

Polish President Karol Nawrocki has signed a decree that authorizes the involvement of armed forces units to assist the border guard at the borders with Germany and Lithuania.

According to the document, additional military personnel will ensure the integrity of the state border in the areas of border crossings.

Their presence is planned from October 5th, 2025, to April 4th, 2026 – the period for which Poland has extended temporary border controls with these countries.

By a separate decree, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has called on the Military Gendarmerie of Poland to support border guards along the border with Germany for the entire duration of the temporary border control.

Control at the borders with Germany and Lithuania was first introduced on July 7th, 2025. Its validity has now been extended until April 2026.

As part of the restored control, Polish border guards, with support from the police and military, are authorized to stop and inspect specific vehicles.

From the beginning of the year until the end of August, border guards detained 483 individuals who had illegally crossed the border from Lithuania into Poland, as well as 55 abettors and organizers.

In addition, more than 2,000 individuals have been detained for illegally crossing the border from Poland into Germany, including over 550 foreigners who had previously crossed the Polish-Belarusian border. Along the German border, about 250 foreigners were detained, having illegally crossed the Lithuanian-Polish border earlier. Over 300 people, in turn, illegally crossed the border from Poland into Germany.

Meanwhile, from January 1st to August 31st, 24,411 attempts to illegally cross the border with Belarus were recorded.

Under the Schengen Border Code, a member state may restore border control at internal borders for up to six months if there is a “likely serious threat to public order or internal security.” If such a serious threat persists for more than six months, the country may extend the control, but not for more than two years.