Overview
- Effective July 7, Poland will enforce temporary border checks with Germany and Lithuania to limit migrant movements
- Around 5,000 soldiers will be stationed at crossing points and air force drones will monitor vehicle inspections for refugees
- Defense Minister Waldemar Kosiniak-Kamysz rejected German proposals for joint patrols, asserting Poland will protect its borders independently
- Tensions escalated after Polish officials accused German officers of returning an Afghan migrant at night, calling the action unacceptable
- The measures reflect mounting domestic political pressure and underscore growing strains on the Schengen free-movement framework