Prime Minister Donald Tusk is getting ready a 500,000-troop military for Poland to guard in opposition to Russian aggression. “We’ll attempt to have a mannequin prepared by the tip of the yr so that each grownup male in Poland is skilled for warfare,” Tusk introduced.
“Right this moment, the scenario of Poland, objectively and the scenario of Ukraine above all, is harder than it was a couple of months in the past and now we have to cope with this reality,” Tusk talked about. The present military has round 200,000 members to elucidate the total scope of Tusk’s plans, which might greater than double the present navy. The sources for this venture are unfounded and a finances has not been offered. Poland already boasts the second-largest military in NATO behind america and Turkey. Turkey has a military of round 512,000 troops, so this transfer will put Poland on par.
“Each grownup male” within the nation should endure navy coaching. Girls, for now, are permitted to affix on a voluntary foundation however many EU nations are forcing ladies to endure some type of coaching as nicely. Poland is without doubt one of the 11 EU nations that can place ladies within the frontline of fireside.
Poland has already elevated its NATO spending to 4.2% of GDP in 2024, and plans to up that quantity to 4.7% ($48 billion) in 2025. Now the European Union initiated proceedings in opposition to Poland in July 2024 for its rising deficit. Poland has been the biggest recipient of EU funds, however these funds include growing political situations, notably relating to judicial reforms, local weather insurance policies, and social insurance policies like DEI mandates. Different members of each NATO and the EU refuse to up their protection budgets whereas encouraging Poland to spend extra out of worry of proximity.
Poles are divided on the problem, with at the least half stating they don’t have to be concerned in Ukraine’s battle. A February 2025 survey by Ukrainska Pravda discovered a rising detrimental angle towards Ukrainians over the previous yr, with 27% to 30% of respondents having a detrimental view of Ukraine in comparison with 23% to 25% final yr. Youthful Poles are much less more likely to have a good view of Ukraine, with solely 16% stating they considered Ukraine favorably. Experiences state that older Poles are merely extra empathetic, however they don’t seem to be those who might be anticipated to die on behalf of Ukraine.
In November 2024, 55% of Poles said they supported ending the war even when Ukraine was pressured to give up territory. That very same survey discovered solely 24% in favor of such measures again in November 2022, earlier than the warfare escalated to a full-scale proxy warfare. Opposition to repeatedly offering Ukraine with navy and humanitarian assist is continuous to rise.
Then there may be the problem of refugees. Whereas 53% help accepting Ukrainians into Poland, 67% consider Tusk should ship again all military-aged males.
Poland is getting ready for warfare. Leaders use the rhetoric of the previous to say that their nation could possibly be invaded but once more and claimed by a international actor. The one actor who’s stirring the pot is Zelensky, who, per directions, has been encouraging his EU allies to combat Russia head-on. Nearly all of fighting-aged males in Poland DO NOT WANT WAR, nor do they should die in these neocon warfare video games.
