Posted on 02/23/2022 5:27:35 AM PST by Cronos
Poland aims to modernise and expand its armed forces into one of the strongest in NATO, under a new homeland defence proposal backed by the government on Tuesday.
Outlining the plan to reporters, Deputy Prime Minister Jarosław Kaczyński said the proposed homeland defence bill was designed to "create the legal basis and financial instruments for a radical expansion of Poland's armed forces in terms of both manpower and firepower."
Referring to escalating tensions with Russia over Ukraine, he added that "Poland must have at its disposal armed forces adequate to the kind of situation we have today--forces that will be able to fend off an attack and will be strong enough to prevent such as attack from happening."
Kaczyński, who heads Poland's ruling conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party, has previously told reporters that “a country located at the external border of the European Union must have a major deterrence capability and be able to defend itself on its own for a long time.”
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak told a news conference in Warsaw that the proposed legislation would "lay the foundations for the development of Poland's armed forces" by opening up new sources of funding for the military and helping increase its numbers through new incentives for voluntary enlistment.
Under the bill, Poland's armed forces are expected to increase to about 300,000 troops, including 250,000 career soldiers, public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.
The new rules would take effect on July 1 and replace regulations dating back to 1967, officials said.
Hungary is on very good terms with Russia, Poland should follow suit.
Does anyone know / recall...
PDJT called for Euro NATO countries to increase their defense spending to 4%. Did that include a decrease for us (to NATO) (”yes”, I think), and if so, by how much?
That might seem like a moot point now, but, I’m curious as to what level of total NATO spending Pres. Trump considered adequate to deter Putin from adventures such as we are presently witnessing.
There is no question NATO “can” spend Russia into the dust - Russia’s GDP is not even 1/10 of NATO countries. Whether NATO countries have the will to do it, and spend wisely / effectively, is another matter...
Putin apologizing for Katyn would be a good start, and also revealing the truth about what really happened in Smolensk with President Kaczyński's plane.
Yes. Putin has said so himself. And in the next sentence will usually then remind us of his nukes. Blackmail, tho’ I question whether Putin really wants to go out as the one who finally destroys Russia (along with most of the rest of the planet).
Interesting website:
Example article:
https://warsawinstitute.org/usa-germany-china-ukrainian-cause/
I am not sure how accurately this site reflects Polish gov’t thinking / analysis (taken as a whole*)?
*Always a dicey endeavor.
Yes, I think so too.
He is not very popular and he knows it, so he prefers to strategize and rule from the background.
The death of his brother was a real tragedy. I really do not know who/what caused the crash?!
The Euros do underspend and this was another strength of Trump, getting them to up the ante.
However, the Euro AirForce and navies have exemplary technology advantages of the Russians and Chinese.
Belgium by itself is nothing, but if it spends more it can be a useful part of NATO
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