Polish President Duda calls the Baltic Sea a hotspot of Russian hybrid warfare, emphasizing naval defense upgrades and autonomy.

On November 28, 2024, during a ceremony in Gdynia commemorating Polish Navy Day, President Andrzej Duda highlighted the escalating importance of the Baltic Sea in the context of Russian hybrid warfare. He emphasized recent damage to underwater cables as evidence of the need for a robust naval presence to protect critical maritime infrastructure. Duda characterized the Baltic Sea as a crucial arena of invisible hybrid conflict against Russian aggression. He highlighted Poland's maritime status as enabling a significant role in shaping international security and urged swift progress on acquiring modern submarines through the Orka program. Furthermore, he advocated for greater autonomy for the Polish Navy, proposing reforms to restore a separate Navy command and control structure as a vital national policy instrument.