The Polish military, which is now one of NATO's key armies, enjoys great trust of the general public.

“Your attitude is characterised by professionalism and determination. You are the salt of the earth. You enjoy a special place in the hearts of every Pole who loves their homeland,”

said Prime Minister Donald Tusk to the soldiers during a parade to mark the Polish Army Day.

He noted that the celebrations commemorated the anniversary of a great historical event - Poland's victory over the Soviet forces, an event that has not been appreciated by everybody, yet many consider it to be one of the most important victories in world history.

“We are well aware that Poland and our independence - as well as the whole of Europe and perhaps the whole civilisation of freedom - survived thanks to that victory and thanks to the sacrifices made by those who were there. Thousands of Polish men and women gave their lives in this battle - for Poland, for freedom and independence, and for the fundamental values that underpin our political and ethical civilisation,”

the Prime Minister stated.

The Poles defeated the Bolshevik forces exactly 104 years ago.

“The Miracle on the Vistula” will forever be a reminder of the great heroism, the extraordinary sacrifice, the brilliant leadership and the great morale of the entire nation at that time. At the same time, it should be a warning for each and every one of us - that we need to count on ourselves.

“When the time comes, we cannot count on a miracle. We will have to count on ourselves and our people. We have to rely on our alliances and on our collective efforts to build a modern army,”

the Prime Minister noted.

He added that the process of raising a new army is a joint effort of all Poles, as everybody is contributing financially.

“Spending a lot of money is not enough. Each penny has to be spent wisely. Not just because it is Polish taxpayer’s money, but also because our security depends on this,”

Donald Tusk explained.

In 2024, a total of 159 billion PLN will be spent on the Polish Army.

The government is working consistently to increase the number of soldiers and to ensure the safety of Poles. As of today, the ranks of the military encompass around 200,000 soldiers. This number will grow to around 220,000 this year. The objective is to increase the size of the army to around 300,000 troops.

“We are not only building one of the largest European armies, but we are also building one of the most modern defence forces in the world. We are not going to stand a chance otherwise,”

the Prime Minister noted.

The strength of a given army is determined not only by its size, but also by its modern and innovative equipment. That is why the funding for the Polish Armed Forces has been increased to the record-breaking 4% of GDP - the highest rate of all NATO countries.

“We will build a state-of-the-art army focused on innovation, since innovation is power on a modern battlefield. We will spend a lot of money to ensure that the Polish forces have the best equipment at their disposal,”

the Prime Minister noted.

The Polish forces also need to be smart, since speed, agility, mobility and technological superiority are the factors that decide contemporary battles.

“We are never going to let Polish soldiers face a stronger, better equipped and armed enemy. Not just because Polish forces deserve the best, but also because the fate of our homeland might depend on it in near future,”

the Prime Minister noted.

If the Polish forces are to be well-equipped, we need to buy modern combat equipment. Recently, the government has signed three contracts for the purchase of military equipment, including 96 Apache helicopters, 48 M903 launchers that constitute part of the Patriot air and missile defence systems, and 28 Kleszcz armoured reconnaissance carriers. To date, Poland has concluded a total of 61 contracts for the supply of equipment, with a total value of 62 billion PLN.

The modernisation of the Polish Army requires active effort on part of the Polish industry, which is why we have concluded more than half of the contracts with the Polish arms industry.

More than 2,500 soldiers representing all branches of the Polish Armed Forces took part in the event on Warsaw's Wisłostrada. The parade was also attended by nearly 100 soldiers of allied forces - from the United States, the United Kingdom and Romania.

Military aircraft flew over the audience, and the attendees were able to admire more than 220 pieces of state-of-the-art equipment that the Polish Army is currently equipped with, including the Patriot system, HIMARS launchers, Black Hawk helicopters, Krab howitzers, Rak self-propelled mortars and modern Abrams and K2 Black Panther tanks.