Poland Reopens Border, Restores China–Europe Rail Link

Poland will reopen all border crossings with Belarus at midnight on Sept. 24–25, ending a near-two-week closure that began on Sept. 12 ahead of the Russian‑Belarusian Zapad‑2025 military drills. The reopening restores the China–Europe Railway Express, alleviating a bottleneck at Małaszewicze through which roughly 90% of China–Europe freight trains from Brest pass and easing major disruptions to Polish carriers and PKP Cargo. Prime Minister Donald Tusk said the preventive closure had fulfilled its purpose but that crossings could be reclosed if threats recur. Officials cited recent security incidents, including a Sept. 10 Russian drone incursion and prior drone shootdowns that caused minor damage, as reasons for the earlier closure. Polish officials also noted the withdrawal of Russian troops from Belarus after the drills while Poland held its own exercises and deployed forces along its borders.