Tusk says Poland will have Europe's largest army
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk (photo: Getty Images)
The Polish army will soon become the largest in Europe thanks to modern weapons and the country's rapid economic growth, according to a statement by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, made during a speech marking Armed Forces Day in Gdynia.
Four security pillars
The Polish premier presented the country's defense strategy, which rests on four key elements: strong borders, powerful international alliances, military and technological modernization, and a dynamic economy.
He stressed that the eastern border with Russia and Belarus has been strengthened through the efforts of security forces and billions of dollars in investments, making it impossible for anyone to slip through.
Minister Tusk also highlighted the importance of supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression, calling it a direct investment in Poland's own security.
"We can debate our Polish-Ukrainian relations, but no one can doubt that supporting Ukraine in its war with Russia is our security. We are doing this for ourselves, for the Polish people and for no one else," the prime minister stressed.
Defense spending, domestic threats
Donald Tusk says Poland's economy is growing faster than those of most Western European countries, allowing the government to allocate record amounts of money to rearm the military and purchase modern equipment.
The main goal of the large-scale military buildup is to effectively deter any potential adversary.
"Our army will soon become the largest in Europe. We are building forces whose modern capabilities and size will determine the fate of the region. The whole world recognizes this. These weapons are not being acquired because politicians are ambitious, but because they are an investment in security," Tusk said.
He also added that Poland seeks to ensure its own security and avoid future armed conflicts.
"We no longer want battles, and if we do have to fight, we want to win. We want to avoid war, and only those who are strong, well-prepared, independent and sovereign can avoid war," the prime minister said.
At the same time, he warned against domestic politicians seeking to undermine unity with the European Union or block funding for security, thereby playing into Moscow's hands.
High-profile assassination plots targeting Ukrainians in Warsaw
As recently reported, Polish security services detained a Russian national who, acting on orders from Russian intelligence, was planning to assassinate a US citizen of Ukrainian origin.
According to law enforcement officials, the target was considered particularly inconvenient for the Kremlin, and the assassination attempt was supposed to take place in Warsaw.
In addition, Polish security services in the capital thwarted a plot involving a contract killer from Donbas who, under the direction of Russia's FSB, was preparing to assassinate Ukrainian blogger and rapper Kyivstoner (Albert Vasyliev). Russian security services had accused the artist of allegedly planning attacks on Moscow.
