Poland will soon have Europe's largest army, Tusk pledges
"Our Polish-Ukrainian relations can be debated, but no one can doubt that supporting Ukraine in the war with Russia is for our security," Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said during the country's Army Day celebrations.
On Aug. 15, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that Poland's military will soon become Europe's largest, during the country's Army Day celebrations. The Polish armed forces have been rapidly expanding since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, aiming to maintain security along NATO's eastern border. On the same day, Poland hosted a large-scale military parade in Warsaw and a naval parade in Gdynia, displaying a record-breaking 300 armored vehicles and approximately 2,000 soldiers.
Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz stated that the nation's fighting force now comprises 220,000 soldiers, with plans to increase this to 300,000 active-duty personnel and another 200,000 in reserves. Prime Minister Tusk emphasized that Russia remains the greatest threat to Poland, Europe, and NATO, despite attempts by far-right nationalists to divert attention from this reality.
Tusk warned against the growing tensions in Polish-Ukrainian relations, which have led to violence against Ukrainians in Poland. He stressed that supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russia is essential for Polish security. Poland's military strength is a critical factor in maintaining stability in the region, particularly given the recent breaches of Polish airspace by Russian missiles and drones.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Independent's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
