Poland pivots to homegrown defense production as it builds Europe’s biggest army
The Ukraine conflict is a top priority for Poland as the country shares a border with Ukraine and sees Russia as an existential threat, officials said.
WARSAW, GDANSK, PRAGUE – As Poland strengthens its military presence to become Europe's largest, the nation is shifting its focus toward local and other central European defense manufacturers to decrease dependency on distant suppliers, according to government officials and industry representatives. Defense procurement from domestic entities, including joint ventures with other Central European firms, has surged nearly fourfold since 2022, reaching 30.4 billion zlotys (approximately $8.15 billion) in the previous year, as reported by Armaments Agency data.
Although the conflict in Ukraine has spurred increased defense spending throughout Europe, for Poland, it stands as a top priority given its shared border with Ukraine and its perception of Russia as an existential threat, according to officials.
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