Poland will increase defense spending to four percent of GDP this year and – as the government promises ahead of autumn elections – the country will have the most powerful land army in Europe.
Poland is one of the largest military supporters of Ukraine, as it supplied military equipment worth three billion euros, including more than 200 tanks and MIG-29 fighter jets. It is also the protagonist of a coalition of countries to supply modern combat aircraft to Ukraine. At the same time, it is greatly increasing defense spending and arming its own army.
Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak recently announced at a pre-election rally in Wolomin that the Polish army will become the strongest in Europe, and at Monday’s meeting of the defense ministers of the 12 northern European NATO member states, he announced new agreements to achieve this goal.
“We are negotiating with Sweden on the purchase of early warning aircraft. Detailed negotiations are already underway and I hope that they will be successfully concluded soon. This way we will strengthen the resilience of Poland, as well as the eastern wing of NATO,” Blaszczak said.
Among other things, Poland ordered a thousand K2 tanks and K9 howitzers from South Korea, 250 American Abrams tanks, and from 2026, part of the K2 tanks will also be produced in Poland.
Shooting exercises in schools
Poland’s homeland security law, which was passed last year, foresees almost doubling the number of troops (to 300,000) in the coming years. Voluntary conscription was also introduced. Since last year, a training program with the army has been held for all interested persons between the ages of 15 and 65 every Saturday for eight hours.
They are also building shooting ranges at an accelerated pace, which the government is encouraging. The Minister of Defense believes that it is important for young people to acquire shooting skills, which is why he recently announced the construction of new shooting ranges across the country. Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki also attended the opening of one of them. Starting next year, shooting exercises will also be introduced in defense lessons at school.
Source: Rtvslo
