Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced Friday that all adult men will undergo military training as part of a plan to expand the country’s army to 500,000 troops. He also stated that Poland is exploring access to nuclear weapons and other advanced military capabilities to counter potential threats from Russia.
Tusk emphasized that Poland must prepare for modern warfare, including the possibility of nuclear deterrence. He also proposed withdrawing from the Ottawa Convention, which bans anti-personnel landmines, arguing that Poland needs to adapt to evolving security threats.
BREAKING:
Polish PM Tusk speaking in Parliament today:
“Poland must pursue the most advanced capabilities, incl. nuclear & modern unconventional weapons”
Journalist later asked him what he meant. He answered that Ukraine fell victim to aggression because it no longer has nukes pic.twitter.com/WogAuQ5Ndp
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) March 7, 2025
The government aims to have a training model in place by the end of the year, ensuring that all adult men are prepared for war if needed. Women may also volunteer for training. Tusk clarified that this is not a return to conscription, which Poland ended in 2008.
Poland currently has about 200,000 troops, making it NATO’s third-largest military after the U.S. and Turkey. The goal is to more than double this number, following the example of Ukraine, which has an army of 800,000 while fighting Russia’s 1.3 million-strong force.
Poland already spends 4.7% of its GDP on defense, the highest in NATO. Tusk proposed raising this to 5% and has been increasing Poland’s military strength with purchases of U.S. Abrams tanks, Patriot missile systems, and F-35 jets, along with South Korean tanks and artillery.
Tusk’s announcement comes as Poland worries that the U.S., under former President Donald Trump, may weaken its support for European allies. Trump has questioned U.S. commitments to NATO and recently halted military aid to Ukraine, raising fears in Poland.
“Poles will not accept being powerless if U.S. policy changes,” Tusk said, stressing the need for Europe to take more responsibility for its own defense. Poland is also in discussions with France about being included under its nuclear protection.
Despite military expansion, Poland has ruled out sending troops to Ukraine. “Poland’s job is to guard its eastern border, which is also NATO’s border,” Tusk said.
Since the start of Russia’s invasion in 2022, Poland has been a key supporter of Ukraine, taking in millions of refugees and supplying military aid.
