Written question asked by Matt Vickers (Conservative) on Monday, 15 November 2021, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 17 November 2021. It was answered by Wendy Morton (Conservative) on Tuesday, 23 November 2021 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Belarus: Poland

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what (a) unilateral and (b) multilateral steps the Government is taking to reduce tensions on the Poland-Belarus border.

Answer: As the Foreign Secretary wrote on 14 November, the situation at the Polish border marks the latest step by the Lukashenko regime to undermine regional security. He is using desperate migrants as pawns in his bid to create instability and to cling on to power regardless of the human cost. We have made clear to the Belarusian authorities, including through their Ambassador to the UK, that this harmful, aggressive and exploitative behaviour must stop. We were pleased to send a small team of personnel to provide engineering support to ease pressure at the border. The Foreign Secretary discussed the situation with her Polish counterpart on 16 November, reiterating the UK's support and solidarity with Poland. We continue to work closely with international partners, including through the OSCE, NATO and the G7.

Secondary information