Rising Migrant Arrivals from Belarus Impact Germany's Border Security

The ongoing migration crisis stemming from Belarus continues to exert pressure on neighboring Poland, with notable repercussions for Germany. Recent intelligence reports indicate that thousands of illegal migrants, who have crossed the EU's external border into Poland under duress, are ultimately making their way into Germany.

Belarus has been accused of utilizing migrants as a strategic tool to create instability within the European Union (EU). According to security sources, the Belarusian government is systematically equipping migrants for attempts to breach Poland's border, often inciting violent confrontations during these crossings. This alarming situation has led to severe consequences, including injuries to Polish border guards, with reports of ten personnel harmed in 2024 alone, and one fatality resulting from a stabbing incident.

Furthermore, the violence and hostility directed at Polish border guards have raised concerns regarding the treatment of migrants. Recent reports detail aggressive encounters where migrants have resorted to using weapons such as knives and incendiary devices against border forces.

As the situation unfolds, it is evident that Germany is not immune to the ramifications of Belarus's hybrid warfare tactics. Data from the Federal Police reveals a significant uptick in illegal crossings linked to Belarus. In 2024, the agency recorded a total of 16,148 unauthorized entries at the German-Polish border, with 4,888 of those involving migrants from Belarus. This trend persists into 2025, with 1,288 unauthorized entries recorded in the first two months, of which 69 were also associated with Belarus.

Over the past 14 months, approximately 4,957 illegal migrants have entered Germany via Belarus and Poland, primarily originating from conflict-affected regions such as Afghanistan, Syria, Somalia, Iran, and India. These individuals are seen as victims of the inhumane, hybrid warfare being waged by Belarus and Russia against the EU.

Hessian Minister for European Affairs, Manfred Pentz, has attributed the escalation at the border to the actions of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko. Pentz emphasized that the situation at the Polish-Belarusian border exemplifies a complex strategy of hybrid warfare aimed at overwhelming the EU's capacity to handle migration and destabilizing political climates within member states.

As the international community observes these developments, the use of migration as a weapon raises significant ethical and humanitarian concerns, highlighting the urgent need for a coordinated response to address these challenges.