Poland holds largest military parade in its history on Armed Forces Day

Poland held its most extensive military parade to date on Armed Forces Day, August 15, 2023, to display its land, sea, and air forces in response to increasing tensions with Russia, according to TVP World. The grand spectacle commenced at noon in the Polish capital, Warsaw, with over 60 military aircraft, including the state-of-the-art U.S.-manufactured F-35 fighter jet, performing aerial maneuvers over the city.

The F-35 is a critical component of Poland's recently bolstered military arsenal, acquired through a $4.6 billion contract to purchase 32 aircraft, of which Poland received its first three in May 2023.

In a separate naval display held off the Baltic Sea coast near Gdynia and Gdansk, more than 20 ships, including vessels from allied nations, participated in the festivities. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk led the event, acknowledging the sacrifices made by soldiers, pilots, and sailors in securing Poland's freedom and sovereignty. Tusk emphasized, "Only those who are strong, well-prepared, truly independent, and sovereign will avoid war."

Military personnel from the United States, Canada, Australia, Lithuania, Estonia, Sweden, Romania, and other countries contributed to the events. France sent the largest contingent of allied forces, featuring a unit of the French Foreign Legion. However, Ukrainian representatives were notably absent. Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Poland has embarked on one of Europe's most significant military modernization initiatives, acquiring 96 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters from the United States, integrating F-35 fighter jets into service, and launching new Wicher frigates.

Plans are underway for Poland to procure Swedish A26 Blekinge-class submarines, recognized as some of the most advanced non-nuclear submarines in Europe.

In 2025, Poland allocated approximately 4.7% of its gross domestic product (GDP) to defense spending, the highest among NATO members. The country intends to raise its defense expenditure to 5% of GDP in 2026.