Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced on Friday that his government is developing a plan to train all adult males in large-scale military exercises. This move is a response to the escalating security concerns in Europe. Tusk emphasized that the goal of this training is to establish a reserve force capable of countering potential threats.
Addressing Poland’s lower house of parliament, the Sejm, Tusk stated the necessity of having a half-million-strong army, including reservists. In the past year, the Polish government aimed to expand its military from approximately 200,000 to 220,000 and eventually to 300,000 soldiers. Europe is considering a massive $840 billion plan to rearm in light of decreased US support.
Security tensions have escalated, with Russia intensifying its attacks on Ukraine and the Trump administration scaling back security assistance to Ukraine and questioning its commitment to NATO. Tusk clarified that he is proposing a reserve system similar to Switzerland’s, where military service is obligatory for men but women can volunteer.
Located on NATO’s eastern flank, Poland is deeply concerned about the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the potential for future threats from Russia, given its history. Tusk stated that a geopolitically weakened Ukraine could lead to increased challenges for Poland.
In addition to military training, Jaroslaw Kaczyński, the head of Poland’s biggest opposition party, suggested that a societal shift, including a return to a chivalric ethos where men are prepared to serve as soldiers, even to the point of risking their lives, is necessary.
In light of these developments, Polish President Andrzej Duda has proposed an amendment to the Polish Constitution to ensure at least 4% of the country’s GDP is spent on defense annually, reinforcing Poland’s status as NATO’s leading defense spender. Tensions are heightened as US President Donald Trump hints at possibly stopping support for NATO allies if they fail to meet spending targets.
Source: https://www.foxnews.com/world/polish-government-plans-mandatory-military-training-adult-men
