WARSAW — Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk has announced plans to introduce mandatory military training for all adult men, aiming to expand the nation’s reserve forces in response to escalating security threats from Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.
The proposal, revealed during a speech to the Sejm, Poland’s parliament, reflects growing anxiety about national security and a determination to bolster the country’s military capabilities.
Tusk stated that efforts are underway to develop a model for large-scale military training by the end of the year, ensuring that “every adult male in Poland is trained in the event of war.”
The prime minister emphasized the need to build a reserve force “comparable and adequate to the potential threats” posed by Russia’s military capabilities.
According to Tusk, the Ukrainian army currently fields around 800,000 soldiers, while Russia’s forces number approximately 1.3 million. Poland, in comparison, has about 200,000 soldiers and reservists combined.
The goal, Tusk said, is to increase the size of Poland’s military to 500,000 personnel, including reservists. “If we organize things wisely, we will have to use several courses of action,” he remarked, highlighting the importance of both reservist mobilization and intensive training for civilians.
While women may also undergo military training, Tusk acknowledged that “war is still to a greater extent the domain of men.”
In addition to the domestic military expansion, Tusk revealed that his government is carefully examining France’s proposal to extend its nuclear umbrella over Europe.
However, he expressed concerns about the specifics of command authority regarding French nuclear weapons. The prime minister also mentioned Poland’s interest in acquiring its own nuclear arsenal, despite acknowledging the long and complex path such a move would entail.
“Today, it is clear that we would be safer if we had our own nuclear arsenal,” Tusk said, while noting that any such decision would require a broad consensus.
Poland’s defense spending is set to reach 4.7% of GDP this year — the highest within the NATO alliance — with Tusk advocating for an increase to 5%.
President Andrzej Duda has also proposed amending the constitution to mandate a minimum defense expenditure of 4% of GDP.
The country has recently signed approximately $20 billion worth of arms deals with the United States, including purchases of 250 M1A2 Abrams tanks, 32 F-35 fighter jets, 96 Apache helicopters, Javelin missiles, and artillery systems.
Additionally, contracts with South Korea will bring in K2 tanks and FA-50 light combat aircraft.
Tusk further suggested that Poland might consider withdrawing from international treaties that ban certain weapons, including the Ottawa Convention on antipersonnel landmines and the Dublin Convention on cluster munitions, indicating a shift towards a more robust defense posture.
Concerns about national security have intensified following former U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to suspend military aid to Ukraine.
A recent surge in public interest in defense measures was highlighted by Mirosław Kaznowski, deputy mayor of Milanówek, who reported high demand for low-cost underground bomb shelters being developed by a local start-up.
As Poland fortifies its defenses, Tusk’s proposals underscore a profound shift in the nation’s military strategy, reflecting both regional tensions and a commitment to national security.