CITIZENS NEWS

Poland aims to double military size, mandate training for all men amid rising tensions with Russia

By isabelle // 2025-03-10

• Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced plans to expand Poland's military to 500,000 troops, including reservists.
• The expansion includes mandatory military training for all adult men amid growing fears of Russian aggression.
• Tusk warned that Russia could launch a full-scale operation against a larger target than Ukraine within 3-4 years.
• Poland is already NATO's top defense spender at 4.7% of GDP and aims to increase it to 5%.
• The government is exploring military modernization, including potentially acquiring nuclear weapons for national security.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced plans Friday to more than double the size of the country’s military to 500,000 troops, including reservists, and implement mandatory military training for all adult men. The announcement, made during a speech to the Polish Parliament, comes amid growing fears of Russian aggression following its invasion of Ukraine and concerns over NATO’s eastern flank. Tusk warned that Poland must prepare for potential conflict, calling his nation a “bastion” of defense for Europe. The proposed measures, which could include training for women as well, aim to create a robust reserve force capable of responding to what Tusk described as an increasingly volatile security environment. “We’re talking about the need to have an army of half-a-million in Poland, including the reservists,” Tusk said, comparing Poland’s current 200,000-strong military to Russia’s estimated 1.3 million troops.

A nation on edge

Poland’s heightened sense of vulnerability stems from its proximity to the war in Ukraine and historical tensions with Russia. Tusk warned that Moscow could launch a “full-scale operation” against a larger target than Ukraine within three to four years, a claim Russia has dismissed as baseless. “If Ukraine loses the war or if it accepts the terms of peace, armistice, or capitulation in such a way that weakens its sovereignty and makes it easier for (Russian President Vladimir) Putin to gain control over Ukraine, then, without a doubt — and we can all agree on that — Poland will find itself in a much more difficult geopolitical situation,” Tusk said. The prime minister’s announcement aligns with broader European efforts to ramp up defense spending. Just a day earlier, EU leaders approved a €800 billion ($840 billion) initiative, dubbed ReArm Europe, to strengthen the bloc’s military capabilities. The Kremlin criticized the plan as a path toward confrontation, with Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissing Tusk’s warnings as “nonsense” designed to justify increased military budgets.

Compulsory training and its challenges

Tusk’s proposal to mandate military training for all adult men has sparked debate. While the plan aims to create a well-prepared reserve force, critics argue that compulsory service could face logistical and societal hurdles. Jaroslaw Kaczyński, head of Poland’s largest opposition party, Law and Justice, emphasized the need for a cultural shift, stating, “We will have a return to the chivalric ethos and to the fact that men should also be soldiers, that is, be able to expose themselves, even to death.” The government is also exploring ways to modernize its military arsenal, including the acquisition of nuclear weapons and advanced conventional arms. Tusk acknowledged the challenges of obtaining nuclear capabilities but stressed their importance for national security. “Today, it is clear that we would be safer if we had our own nuclear arsenal,” he said, pointing to Ukraine’s vulnerability after relinquishing its nuclear stockpile in the 1990s.

Defense spending and geopolitical realities

Poland is already NATO’s top defense spender relative to its GDP, allocating 4.7% of its economic output to military expenditures this year. Tusk called for increasing that figure to 5%, while President Andrzej Duda proposed a constitutional amendment to mandate defense spending at 4% of GDP annually. The country has also signed major arms deals, including $20 billion in contracts with the U.S. for tanks, fighter jets, and missile systems, as well as agreements with South Korea for tanks and combat aircraft. Despite these investments, anxiety persists among Poles, particularly after U.S. President Donald Trump signaled a potential shift in American support for Ukraine and NATO. As Poland prepares to expand its military and implement sweeping training programs, the nation finds itself at a crossroads. Tusk’s ambitious plans reflect a deep-seated fear of Russian aggression and a determination to safeguard Poland’s sovereignty. However, the road ahead is full of challenges, from logistical hurdles to societal resistance. Sources for this article include: RT.com BBC.com Military.com

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