Portal partners
"Safe Baltic": MON prepares legislative revolution
Author:Mariusz Dasiewicz
The Ministry of National Defence announces the amendment of regulations governing the operation of the Navy and other components of the Polish Armed Forces at sea. Draft Act NoUD245The "Safe Baltic" is intended to increase the effectiveness of emergency response to maritime critical infrastructure and to allow efficient operation in conditions of limited situational information.
In the article
"Safe Baltic": new Navy privileges
In the CIS portal, journalist Rafał Lisiecki described the announcement of a legislative project, which the Ministry of Defence refers to as "Safe Baltic". According to the information contained in the government's list of legislative work, the planned amendments are intended to improve the actions of the Polish Armed Forces in the event of a security threat.Countries in territorial waters.
The project includes both strengthening the protection of critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, including pipelines, wind farms and offshore cables, as well as creating legal bases for patrol, deterrence and monitoring activities, also outside the country.
New commanding powers and automatic use decisionsarmaments
One of the key elements of the reform is to extend the powers of the operational commander of the Polish Armed Forces in the use of air defense kits such as the Patriot system. In the event of imminent danger, the decision to open fire may be taken automatically without the need for approval by the higher level of command. In the event of a loss of communication, the authority shall be taken over by the Fire Group Commander.
As Oskar Draus pointed out on the platform of X kmdr, the new powers of the Polish Navy concern primarily territorial waters, where they will be aligned with the competences of the Border Guard. However, it is on the waters of the adjacent zone and the exclusive economic zone, where the SG operates to a limited extent, that situations may arise requiring more flexibility.
This means that although from the crew's point of view the response time is reduced to seconds, the full responsibility for the configuration of the reaction parameters – that is, the moment when the automatic fire can be opened – remains at operational level. It remains crucial that the rules for the automatic use of weapons, the so-called fire opening rules, are established at the level of the Operational Commander of the MSZ.
Use of armed forces abroad
The amendment introduces a new premise for the use of armed forces outside the territory of Poland – "strengthening the security of the Polish Republic". Reference to Article 51United Nations Chartersis intended to form the legal basis for actions under the right to self-defense.
As part of a project aimed at improving the activities of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland, the Minister of National Defence will be given the opportunity to pass the decision on the use of troops outside the borders of the State of the General Commander of the Polish Armed Forces and the Operational Commander of the Polish Armed Forces – subject to the right to repeal their decisions.
Infrastructure protection: rapid fire reaction
The project assumes that in the event of a direct threat tocritical infrastructure– e.g. Baltic Pipe pipeline, offshore wind farms or offshore cables – the ship's commander will be able to order the use of weapons if circumstances require immediate action. The bill also provides for the extension of the powers of the Navy commanders to the powers currently conferred on the Border Guard units. In internal waters and in the territorial seas of the commanders, they will be able to take action to stop and control civilian vessels, to give instructions to change course, to pursue and, if necessary, to use weapons. This change significantly extends the operational function of the Polish Navy in the field of the protection of the maritime borders of the state.
The provision mentions "use of weapons", however, it does not specify whether it will include only individual equipment of soldiers, or ship armaments – such as rockets, torpedoes or artillery systems. This is an important issue, requiring clarification both in the interpretation of rules and in operational practice.
International references
This solution is similar to that of the United States Navy. Ships of this formation, especially on sensitive waters, can carry out orderly and preventive functions, complementary to coastguard tasks. Such duality of roles increases fleet operational flexibility and allows a rapid response in the so-called "grey zone" – without having to involve numerous formations.
US Navy operates on the basis of internal guidelines known asStanding Rules of Engagement (SROE)developed byJoint Chiefs of Staff– a document specifying under what circumstances and under what conditions the commander can use force, both during peace and war.Characteristic elementThis command model is a wide range of decision-making freedom at the level of operational and tactical command, allowing immediate response to emergency situations – especially in waters away from major command centres.
Legislative work, timetable and broader strategic context
The Ministry of Defence plans to adopt the bill in the 3rd quarter of 2025. The project is part of a larger whole under the name "The Baltic Tarcza", which also includes programs "Green Industrial District Kaszubia" and "Pact for Security of Poland – Central Pomerania".
If the government keeps the current pace of work, the bill can enter into force even before the winter season 2025/26 – when critical infrastructure at sea is most exposed. Will the new regulations be sufficient to effectively address the threats in the Baltic's "grey zone"?
Source: CIS/Mariusz Dasiewicz
