Securing the Eastern Flank: Poland’s East Shield and the Militarization of the Polish-Belarussian Borderland in Response to Hybrid Threats

This article examines Poland’s evolving border security strategy in response to hybrid threats from Belarus and Russia, culminating in the East Shield program. Considering NATO’s strategic shift after Russia’s actions in Ukraine, the study looks at how Poland’s border with Belarus has become a semi-militarized frontier using both kinetic and non-kinetic tools. The research explores strategies to deter hybrid aggression, including weaponized migration and disinformation, while upholding democratic principles. Using a qualitative, interdisciplinary approach grounded in policy analysis and case studies from the 2021–2022 border crisis, the findings indicate that East Shield relies on deterrence by denial, combining fortifications with AI and electronic warfare. It also raises concerns about militarization, civil-military gaps, and the resilience of democracy.