Polish prime minister Donald Tusk aims to have stronger national armed forces than any of his European neighbours and rivals. The “Piast Doctrine,” announced on Friday, would ensure the PM’s ambition that “Our army must be able to repel any threat.” Tusk sees the plan as a way to secure for Poland
“the strongest army in the region, the strongest economy in the region, and a strong position in the European Union.”
Poland, with Nato’s third-largest military, spends 4.7% of its GDP on defence. The Doctrine would likely see a significant increase, as the EU member state positions itself as guarding Europe’s border with the East, specifically Russia.
Tusk’s rhetoric is also seen as a move to challenge the opposition Law & Justice party (PiS), his main conservative rival in the upcoming 2025 presidential election. He is attempting to outflank PiS on the right, casting himself as a committed defender of Polish security.
