The Warsaw government announces a large-scale military transformation plan, which includes the largest army in Europe and a rapid increase in the defense budget.
Poland aims to become, by the end of this decade, the European state with the largest and most powerful army, alongside a significant increase in defense spending, which is expected to reach 5% of GDP.
The statements were made on Wednesday by the Polish Minister of Defense, Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, during a conference dedicated to European security. The official emphasized that Warsaw aims to reach a force of approximately 500,000 military personnel, of which 300,000 are professional soldiers and 200,000 are highly ready reservists.
“We live in pre-war times, we are building a new security architecture”, stated the minister, who insisted that military investments need to be accelerated to avoid major risk situations in the future, writes international press.
According to data presented by Polish officials, the country allocated approximately 50 billion euros for defense in 2025, equivalent to 4.7% of GDP – the highest level in NATO relative to the economy.
“It is urgent that defense spending reach 5% of GDP (Gross Domestic Product) by the end of the decade because, if we do it later, it might be too late”, the minister believes.
Warsaw also maintains its goal of strengthening the American military presence on its territory, considering it essential for regional security. In this regard, the Polish minister described the expansion of the US troops presence as “a strategic objective“.