This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-38129171

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
UK to send 150 troops to Poland to deter 'Russian aggression' UK-Polish ties to be 'stronger' after Brexit insists May
(about 4 hours later)
The UK is to send 150 troops to Poland to help "deter Russian aggression" in Europe, Theresa May has said as she held talks with her Polish counterpart. Theresa May has insisted that Brexit will not stand in the way of the UK strengthening its ties with Poland.
The troops will be deployed in April close to the Polish border with the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad. The prime minister signalled closer co-operation in defence, cyber security and enterprise during Downing Street talks with counterpart Beata Szydlo.
The PM said mutual defence and security links would develop despite Brexit. She said she wanted an "early" resolution to negotiations over the future legal status of the 900,000 Polish citizens living in the UK.
Beata Szydlo said Polish citizens in the UK needed certainty about their future after Brexit but understood any guarantees had to be reciprocal. Ms Szydlo said this was a vital issue but understood reciprocity was needed.
While the Brexit process would be "interesting", she told reporters she hoped negotiations would yield positive results for both the UK and the EU. At a press conference in No 10 following the first-ever UK-Polish summit, Mrs May also confirmed the UK is to send 150 troops to Poland to help "deter Russian aggression" in Europe. They will be deployed in April close to the Polish border with the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad.
"As for reciprocity in terms of the rights and privileges, they have to be negotiated and there needs to be the right balance," she said. "This is the condition that will certainly be brought up by Poland." 'Right balance'
At a press conference in Downing Street following the first-ever UK-Polish summit, Mrs May said she wanted an "early" resolution to talks over the future legal status of EU nationals living in the UK, including more than 900,000 Poles, once the UK exits. On the crucial issue of residency and employment rights, Ms Szydlo said Polish citizens in the UK needed certainty about their future after Brexit, telling reporters she hoped negotiations would yield "the right balance" for both the UK and the EU.
But she said any agreement depended on Britons living elsewhere in Europe retaining equivalent rights. "From the point of view of Poland, let me reiterate that the most important thing (after Brexit) is the guarantees for the Polish citizens who are living and working in the United Kingdom," she said. "Of course, these guarantees would need to be reciprocal."
Mrs May said she wanted to give Poles and other EU citizens living in the UK certainty but she said any agreement depended on Britons living elsewhere in Europe having equivalent assurances over their rights.
During the visit to London, Mrs May and Ms Szydlo discussed Brexit and defence co-operation over a working lunch, while senior ministers, including Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and Chancellor Philip Hammond, met their counterparts at Lancaster House.During the visit to London, Mrs May and Ms Szydlo discussed Brexit and defence co-operation over a working lunch, while senior ministers, including Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and Chancellor Philip Hammond, met their counterparts at Lancaster House.
The leaders and ministers then held formal talks in the Cabinet Room at 10 Downing Street on issues ranging from trade and scientific co-operation to concerns about Moscow's military actions in Ukraine and Syria.The leaders and ministers then held formal talks in the Cabinet Room at 10 Downing Street on issues ranging from trade and scientific co-operation to concerns about Moscow's military actions in Ukraine and Syria.
'Shared history''Shared history'
Mrs May said she was determined that Brexit would not stand in the way of stronger economic and cultural ties between the two countries, announcing a series of joint initiatives on enterprise, innovation and cyber security and the ambition of a first-ever bilateral defence treaty between the two nations.Mrs May said she was determined that Brexit would not stand in the way of stronger economic and cultural ties between the two countries, announcing a series of joint initiatives on enterprise, innovation and cyber security and the ambition of a first-ever bilateral defence treaty between the two nations.
Mrs May provided more details of the deployment next Spring of around 150 troops from the Light Dragoons, along with a number of armoured vehicles, to Orzysz in north-east Poland, close to the border with Kaliningrad, which houses Russia's Baltic fleet.Mrs May provided more details of the deployment next Spring of around 150 troops from the Light Dragoons, along with a number of armoured vehicles, to Orzysz in north-east Poland, close to the border with Kaliningrad, which houses Russia's Baltic fleet.
The move, she said, was a response to Russian aggression on the "eastern flank of Europe".The move, she said, was a response to Russian aggression on the "eastern flank of Europe".
Mrs May said: "Our ties with Poland are rooted deeply in our shared history. We will never forget the Polish pilots who braved the skies alongside us during World War Two, standing up for freedom and democracy in Europe, nor the valuable contribution made by so many Poles in our country today.Mrs May said: "Our ties with Poland are rooted deeply in our shared history. We will never forget the Polish pilots who braved the skies alongside us during World War Two, standing up for freedom and democracy in Europe, nor the valuable contribution made by so many Poles in our country today.
"I am determined that Brexit will not weaken our relationship with Poland - rather it will serve as a catalyst to strengthen it.""I am determined that Brexit will not weaken our relationship with Poland - rather it will serve as a catalyst to strengthen it."
'Down-to-earth'
Mrs May added that the summit "marks the start of a new chapter in our relations and we will work even more closely together to ensure the security and prosperity of our nations in the years ahead".Mrs May added that the summit "marks the start of a new chapter in our relations and we will work even more closely together to ensure the security and prosperity of our nations in the years ahead".
"Today's meeting puts beyond doubt the common ground we share, the importance we attach to our bilateral relationship and the benefits it brings. We share a clear commitment to take our co-operation to the next level and to firmly establish the UK and Poland as resolute and strategic allies in Europe.""Today's meeting puts beyond doubt the common ground we share, the importance we attach to our bilateral relationship and the benefits it brings. We share a clear commitment to take our co-operation to the next level and to firmly establish the UK and Poland as resolute and strategic allies in Europe."
'Down-to-earth'
Mrs May has promised to trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, which starts the legal process for Brexit, by the end of March.Mrs May has promised to trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, which starts the legal process for Brexit, by the end of March.
Formal negotiations cannot begin until then, but the UK prime minister is holding informal discussions with other EU leaders to find out their views.Formal negotiations cannot begin until then, but the UK prime minister is holding informal discussions with other EU leaders to find out their views.
In the Daily Telegraph, Ms Szydlo wrote: "Warsaw will certainly be one of the capitals which will participate in Brexit negotiations in a constructive and down-to-earth manner." Ms Szydlo said the Brexit process would be "interesting" and negotiations must take place in a spirit of "mutual trust".
She added: "We hope, as I believe the rest of the EU hopes, that Britain's new relationship with the EU will be as close as possible, and based on the principles of proportionality and balance of rights and obligations. Warsaw has raised concerns about the abuse of Poles in the UK following the Brexit referendum, with a rise in incidents of alleged hate crimes. Ms Szydlo said the incidents that occurred were "very sad" and thanked the UK authorities for their "quick reaction"
"Whether we manage to complete this arduous task of bringing negotiations to a satisfying result will depend solely on our imagination and leadership. We need a good compromise which gives both our countries the best possible options for economic and security co-operation. "We continue working together in order to make sure that the Polish community is safe," she added.
"Poland will be a constructive partner in this process, as we have been in the past - but the initiative for determining British ambitions and expectations as to the future level of co-operation with the EU has to come from London."
Mrs May has said she wants to guarantee the rights of EU citizens in the UK. including the more than 900,000 Poles living in the country, but will not do so unless she receives reciprocal assurances from her EU counterparts.
Warsaw has raised concerns about the abuse of Poles in the UK following the Brexit referendum, with a rise in incidents of alleged hate crimes.