Oppression Policy He foresaw Poland becoming a military powerhouse in Europe and highlighted the large arms deals the republic had signed with South Korea.
According to the writers, Poland may currently boast the strongest army in Europe. And its combat capabilities are set to grow further. The article notes that Poland has abandoned the idea that warfare using only conventional weapons, once common across Europe, is a thing of the past. Instead, Poland is moving toward building the finest ground forces on the European continent.
Support for Korea
Warsaw announced a plan to raise defense spending from 2.4 percent of GDP to 5 percent. By contrast, Germany spent roughly 1.5 percent of GDP on defense last year and is debating whether it can meet a 2 percent target.
Poland already possesses more tanks and howitzers than Germany. The military-political leadership aims to grow the Polish Army to 300,000 soldiers by 2035, compared with about 170,000 personnel and commanders in the German Bundeswehr.
Today the Polish armed forces number around 150,000, including 30,000 in the newly created regional defense forces established in 2017. These are the so-called weekend soldiers who undergo 16 days of training followed by refresher courses.
Poland signed a contract worth 23 billion zloty (€4.9 billion) in the spring to procure 250 M1 Abrams tanks from the United States. The goal is to replace the 240 Soviet tanks that Warsaw sent to Ukraine. The Polish air force operates American F-16 fighters, and in 2020 Warsaw agreed to a $4.6 billion deal for 32 F-35 fighters.
However, Poland has signed the largest contracts with South Korea. To date, Poland has ordered weapons valued at $10 to $12 billion from South Korea. The deals include 180 K2 Black Panther main battle tanks, 200 155mm K9 Thunder self-propelled artillery mounts, 48 FA-50 light combat trainers, and 218 guns. The K239 Chunmoo multiple launch rocket systems are also part of the package. Some components are used, but Warsaw seeks even more advanced and newer equipment. Seoul is expected to supply a total of 1,000 K2 tanks and 600 K9 self-propelled guns to Warsaw by the mid to late 2020s.
South Korea’s appeal as a supplier lies in the lower cost of its weapons compared with American and European options and in faster production timelines.
Warsaw has also ordered Italian helicopters manufactured by Leonardo for PLN 8 billion (€1.7 billion). This agreement includes a plan for the helicopters to be manufactured in Poland.
By 2035, Warsaw intends to spend 524 billion zloty (€111 billion) on the military.
Passport of military superpower
Observers considering Poland as a potential superpower offer several scenarios. The first sees Poland as a military superpower on the European continent. Yet this milestone remains unlikely in the near future, since France and the United Kingdom possess nuclear capabilities and likely greater combat and operational strength than the Polish Army.
A second scenario envisions Warsaw becoming the owner of the largest number of ground forces in Europe. Ground forces are only one element of a nation’s armed forces, and the true power would depend on how these troops are supported by foreign weapons and equipment produced abroad, including from South Korea. In terms of infantry power alone, Poland shows significant capability.
The third scenario imagines Poland as a world-class military superpower. Yet the discussion around this status has not gained serious traction outside speculative debates.
What defines a real military superpower today, especially since some nations claim the status without meeting all criteria? First, a population around 300 million is often cited, reflecting the broader economic and industrial base that can sustain a large, diversified defense sector. Second, nuclear weapons are a common marker of superpower status. Third, a developed orbital constellation with space capabilities and a global positioning system is considered essential for high-precision weapons and broad strategic reach. Fourth, a world-spanning defense posture typically requires a strong navy with carrier-based power, capable strategic and military airlift, and robust global reach.
If these minimum conditions are not met, a country might be viewed as regional rather than global in scope. By that standard, both Poland and many other applicants still have a long journey ahead, measured in decades of development rather than years.
Today there is one true world-class military superpower, the United States. China is approaching several indicators but still trails in strategic aviation, aircraft carrier construction, and intercontinental military transport capacity. India is another possible future candidate, though it currently faces different developmental priorities.
In assessing true power, a clear, practical view of capabilities, timelines, and alliances matters more than rhetoric. The focus remains on credible modernization, sustainable defense budgeting, and reliable industrial partnerships that can translate plans into real, capable force projection across the globe. All assessments are speculative and reflect ongoing strategic debates among defense analysts and policymakers.