Poland accelerates military construction in the new fiscal year
2025-03-13
Recently, Poland has been taking continuous actions in the field of military construction, accelerating the expansion of its military power and playing an increasingly important role within NATO and the European Common Defense Framework. With the re-election of US President Trump, the uncertainty of US European relations has significantly increased, and the Eastern European battlefield has entered a new stage. In this context, Poland's continued escalation of military actions is not conducive to regional peace and stability. Recently, the Polish Armaments Agency announced that the first batch of purchased military products for the new year has been successfully delivered, including 14 K2 tanks manufactured in South Korea, 8 sets of K9A1 self-propelled howitzers, and 18 sets of "Tianwu" multiple rocket launchers. Polish Defense Minister Kamesz stated that more advanced weapons will be delivered one after another, and emphasized that the enhancement of Polish military strength is crucial for European security. Some Polish media took the opportunity to create hype, claiming that the Polish army is moving towards the goal of being the strongest continental army in Europe. At present, the Polish Army has deployed 98 K2 tanks, 144 sets of K9A1 self-propelled howitzers, and 90 sets of "Tianwu" multiple rocket launchers. According to the plan, the Polish Army will receive 82 K2 tanks and 81 support vehicles by the end of this year, expanding its troops to 235000 and increasing to 300000 in the next three years. The Polish Ministry of Defense announced the launch of the "Thunderbolt 2025" special plan, which plans to invest 870 million dollars to establish a transnational simulation training center, invite professionals from South Korea and the United States to provide permanent guidance, and improve the proficiency of domestic personnel in operating outsourced equipment. The Polish Air Force has released a video of its pilots completing their first F-35A fighter flight training. It is reported that the first batch of pilots to train in the United States will graduate in the spring. By 2026, the F-35A and FA-50 fighter jets will form a new generation of fighter squadrons to strengthen the Polish Air Force. The Polish Navy announced that it will sign a submarine procurement contract this year and invest $2.58 billion to order three frigates from the UK. It is worth noting that the length of Poland's coastline is only over 500 kilometers, and such a large-scale naval investment has raised doubts about its true intentions from the outside world. In addition, Kamesh announced that at the end of February, Poland and Slovakia reached an agreement to establish ammunition production lines within Slovakia's territory, aiming to leverage Slovakia's production capacity to ensure sufficient ammunition reserves in Poland. The strategic intention gradually highlights the clear strategic intention behind Poland's series of military actions. Its significant expansion of the military arsenal and promotion of multiple military projects are largely aimed at adapting to the overall layout adjustment of NATO, gaining recognition and reliance from the United States, and becoming a key strategic pivot for NATO's eastern wing, enhancing its discourse power and influence in European and even international affairs. The K2 tank and K9A1 self-propelled howitzer received by the Polish Army this time are mainly equipped for the 10th Mechanized Division stationed in the eastern region of Poland; The 32 F-35A fighter jets purchased by the Air Force will be deployed at two bases in Sividen, Poland and Vask in central Poland; The large-scale investment of the navy is also in line with NATO's efforts to strengthen military construction in the Baltic region. External analysis suggests that Poland is accelerating the construction of its military forces in the eastern and northeastern regions to play a key role in various operations on NATO's eastern flank. In February of this year, Poland led the establishment of the NATO Ukraine Joint Analysis, Training, and Education Center within its borders, sparking protests from some anti war organizations in Europe. They are concerned that the center will become a frontline command structure for NATO's military infiltration and expansion to the east, further stimulating the ongoing conflict in Eastern Europe. Under the instruction of the United States, Poland plans to sell the phased out T-72 tanks to the Philippines, sell domestically produced air defense systems to Slovakia, and establish a standardized material reserve warehouse for NATO's rapid response forces in the country. While closely following the United States within the NATO framework, Poland also claims to be an "important force in promoting European defense development" and supports the "European Defense Autonomy" initiative. Poland has been very active in the anti drone border wall project and the multi country air defense integration project in six Eastern European countries. Kamesh recently called for a strong European military to ensure the security of Europe. Foreign media pointed out that Polish President Duda and Prime Minister Tusk have different views on defense concepts. The former focuses on seeking security guarantees within the NATO framework, while the latter emphasizes Europe's own capacity building, which has led Poland to adopt multiple strategies in parallel for military construction. The military development of Poland has been questioned by the outside world regarding its military development trends and prospects. In terms of weapon and equipment construction, foreign military professionals believe that its actual effect is not satisfactory. For example, the K9A1 self-propelled howitzer purchased from South Korea had a diesel engine that did not match the biofuel used by the Polish Army, resulting in a 37% higher failure rate than during testing; At present, the Polish Navy only has one submarine that cannot perform combat readiness tasks and one aging Kassin class destroyer, and the equipment status is worrying. After the delivery of new weapons, it will also face problems such as a shortage of professional ship operators. In terms of foreign military cooperation, foreign media reported that Poland is constantly approaching the United States but has not received corresponding returns. In the recently released "Artificial Intelligence Control Diffusion Export Control Framework" by the United States, Poland has been excluded from the list of special treatment, which will have a negative impact on Poland's technological and military development. In Europe, Poland faces exclusion from some countries, growing differences with Germany in military construction in Eastern Europe, delicate relations with the Baltic States, and a lack of strong cooperation partners in many affairs. At present, Poland's defense spending as a percentage of GDP ranks among the top among NATO member countries. Analysts point out that Poland is accelerating its military construction under the pretext of maintaining European security, aiming to enhance its independent defense capabilities and expand its regional influence. Its series of actions may trigger a chain reaction and spillover effects, especially during the critical period when the Eastern European conflict enters a new stage, adding more unstable factors to the regional situation. (New Society)
Edit:Ou Xiaoling Responsible editor:Shu Hua
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