Law and Justice President Jarosław Kaczyński said at a conference in Warsaw that during his party’s rule “a huge effort has been made to expand the Polish army.” As he noted, then-Minister of National Defense Mariusz Błaszczak was able to “take it upon himself and carry it out,” despite various resistance and attacks from the opposition. He added that “we must have the strongest army in Europe.”
On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Poland’s accession to the North Atlantic Alliance, Law and Justice organized a conference with the participation of the party chairman, Jarosław Kaczyński, and the chairman of the PiS parliamentary club, Mariusz Błaszczak. The contribution of the PiS government to the development of the Polish army was recalled.
Poland in NATO
At the beginning of his speech, Jarosław Kaczyński pointed out that Poland “overcame the resistance that was clearly present in the West and the US.” As he assessed, “this part of Europe was considered a gray zone.”
25 years ago something very important happened. Our accession to NATO was a situation that changed the status of Poland and the status of this part of Europe. It overcame the resistance that was very clear, the resistance in Western Europe, including in the United States, the resistance that amounted to considering this part of Europe as a gray zone that has at most a very general security guarantee.
– he said.
He pointed out that in 1999 there were still some restrictions on Alliance membership. The PiS president noted that “the constitution between NATO and Russia limited NATO’s activities in this part of Europe.” As he explained, it involved stationing troops and keeping “weapons that shouldn’t be here.”
As he noted, Poland’s accession to the Alliance was intended to improve security concerns.
This was the way to change this situation; which could lead to a situation where we would be full members of NATO without any restrictions
– said the PiS president, explaining that the agreements with Russia hampered security activities.
Although this process took time, it produced results
– he noted.
Jarosław Kaczyński recalled that the NATO summit was held in Warsaw in 2016.
The meeting in Warsaw during the PiS government was important because it was decided that there would be troops, but it was still intended to be a rotating presence.
– he pointed out.
As he emphasized, although the PiS government’s efforts “to deviate from the constitution did not achieve full results” because the law was formally in force, “it ceased to have no meaning whatsoever.” He noted that American troops could appear in Poland.
Expansion of the Polish army
Jarosław Kaczyński also referred to the issue of the significant expansion of the Polish army when his party came to power.
We were confronted with the belief of many people, including members of the political elite, that joining NATO itself was a guarantee that did not require any action on our part. Strengthening the army was given up; Actions were taken that led to its reduction and weakening
– he said.
As he noted, the Polish army previously numbered more than 90,000 men. soldiers,
The police were bigger than the army. Appropriate decisions had to be made
– he pointed out.
As he noted, the PiS government decided, among other things: on increasing military spending and implemented a major weapons program.
The conference indicated that Poland is currently the NATO leader in defense spending to GDP. As reported, the Polish army numbered approximately 95,000 men in 2015. soldiers, and in 2023 approximately 195 thousand. soldiers. It was also recalled that in the years 2015-2023 the Territorial Forces, the Cybernetic Forces, the 18th Mechanized Division and the 1st Legionary Infantry Division were established.
The PiS president emphasized that “a huge effort has been made to expand the Polish army.” As he noted, then Minister of National Defense Mariusz Błaszczak “was able to take it for himself and implement it”, although “there was a lot of resistance of all kinds” and the opposition said it was “impossible, unfeasible”. .
He also emphasized that “we must have the strongest army in Europe.”
We’re going this route
– he pointed out.
We must have an army, at least in terms of land forces, with the strongest potential in Europe, and we have followed this path. Today we hope she is not detained. We need strong missile and anti-aircraft defenses
– he said.
As he explained, “to be able to repel and deter the enemy by one’s own strength.”
He also explained that the enemy’s knowledge of long-term resistance – measured in years – is the best guarantee that war will not occur.
If you want peace you must prepare for war
– added.
Reinforcement of the Polish army
The chairman of the parliamentary club PiS also gave a speech during the conference
Today we can say that the Polish army numbers almost 200,000 men. soldiers. When we started our mission in 2015, there were 95,000. soldiers. We have also strengthened the Polish army in terms of equipment. It is worth mentioning the equipment we acquired for the Polish Army, both in cooperation with the United States: HIMARS launchers, Abrams tanks, Patriots, i.e. missiles that today protect Polish airspace and thus the effectively deter the aggressor.
– he said.
I’m also thinking of the Korean direction here. I think it is our joint achievement that in such a short time we managed to equip the Polish army with K-2 tanks, K-9 gun howitzers and Chunmu missile systems with a range of up to 300 km, namely the Korean version of HIMARS. , there are finally FA-50 aircraft designed by Lockheed Martin, the company that produces the F-16 and F-35. This year, Polish F-35s will arrive at the end of August, also ordered by the Law and Justice government
– said Mariusz Błaszczak.
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Source: wPolityce