Polish colonel warns: Defense strength must urgently increase!

Polish colonel warns: Defense strength must urgently increase!

An event recently took place in Dresden that was anything but quiet. Colonel Michael H. Popielas, commander of the Saxony State Command, discussed the current security policy situation in Germany and Europe. He emphasized that the core mission of the Bundeswehr remains national and alliance defense. This call came as part of a leadership meeting aimed at representatives of the district and district liaison commands. The situation, especially given the perceived threat of geopolitical tensions, leaves no eye dry.

A particularly interesting guest was Colonel Edward Chyła, commander of the 16th Territorial Defense Forces Brigade from Wrocław. He reported impressively on Poland's approaches to dealing with the security policy challenges that arose from the Ukraine conflict. It is clear that Poland faces major tasks - Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that a comprehensive increase in troops is on the cards. The aim is to increase the number of men trained annually from 40,000 to a whopping 100,000 in order to achieve a total defense strength of 500,000 soldiers.

Poland's plans and challenges

What is behind these ambitious projects? The security situation in Europe has changed significantly since Poland's pro-democratic transformation in 1989. In particular, joining NATO in 1999 and joining the EU in 2004 are considered turning points. However, Russia's revisionist policies and the war against Ukraine have cast Polish security policy in a new light. Poland not only sees itself as a supporter of Ukrainian independence, but has also taken concrete steps to expand its own defense capabilities.

The latest statistics prove Poland's determination in the military field: last year the Polish army had 216,000 active members. These are made up of 140,000 professional soldiers and almost 40,000 members of the Territorial Defense Forces. A notable component of Poland's strategy is the creation of an "army of reservists" - a powerful concept for responding flexibly to threats. This becomes even clearer when one knows that the Sejm has already passed a law for the defense of the fatherland, which is intended to drastically increase troop numbers within a few years.

World politics and regional stability

In the international context, Poland plays a crucial role in supporting Ukraine. With over 9.5 million Ukrainian refugees arriving in Poland since the beginning of 2022 and a significant increase in Polish-Ukrainian trade following the start of Russian aggression, Poland also sees itself as a guardian of regional stability. Over 44 packages of military aid to Ukraine have been approved, and it will be interesting to see how the security architecture in Europe continues to develop.

In such a context, Colonel Popielas explains that the German side shows great interest in the training of Polish reservists, which is based on the Polish Home Army in World War II. What is becoming clear is that cooperation between Germany and Poland could be a key to stabilizing and improving the security situation in the region.

Ultimately, the question remains as to what further measures need to be taken to respond to the current security situation. The pressure to act is growing tirelessly, and Germany and Poland are faced with the challenge of raising their armed forces and cooperation to a new level. January 1, 2025, when Poland will take over the EU Council Presidency, could be a seminal point in time for security policy developments.

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