We are increasing defence spending – totalling around PLN 98 billion - The Chancellery of the Prime Minister

We are increasing defence spending – totalling around PLN 98 billion

21.09.2022

The Head of the Polish Government Mateusz Morawiecki has observed the Niedźwiedź-22 military exercise at the training ground in Nowa Dęba. These are tanker maneuvers, involving the participation of Polish, British and American troops, which are organised as part of cooperation within the North Atlantic Alliance. We are constantly modernising the Polish army: for this purpose, next year we will allocate around PLN 98 billion from the state budget. We are also consistently strengthening the ranks of our army – today we have about 140,000 soldiers.

Joint exercises within NATO

Niedźwiedź-22 is the 18th. Mechanised Division’s biggest exercise of the year. All military units subordinate to the Iron Division are taking part in the exercise. It is an exercise that strengthens the full cooperation of allied troops from Poland, the United States and the United Kingdom. Together, the relevant tasks are performed by tank drivers in three types of tanks: Poles in Leopards, Americans in Abrams, and British in Challengers.

"Poland is part of the largest, most important military alliance in the history of the world: the North Atlantic Treaty Alliance. This is a powerful guarantee of security for us – said Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki.

Strengthening the Polish army

Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki stressed that the appropriate resources were needed to modernise the army. After tightening Poland’s budget, the Government now has the funds to strengthen the Polish Army.

"Today we are strengthening the Polish army at a rate at which it has not been strengthened for several decades at least," said the Prime Minister. And he added:

"For next year alone, we are increasing spending from the budget by around PLN 40 billion – from PLN 57-58 billion to around PLN 98 billion. In addition to the introduction of modern equipment, our army will also grow in size".

Additionally, we are allocating tens of billions of zloties to modernisation by purchasing abroad as well as placing orders in Poland. We want the Polish army to be equipped with effective and modern equipment. Our equipment is being checked on the battlefield, on the territory of Ukraine, and this verification is being carried out successfully.

Guaranteed safety for the Polish people

Increased investments in the army, the creation of the Territorial Defense Forces, the Act on the Defense of the Homeland and the voluntary basic military service – these are a number of solutions designed to ensure a safe future for all Poles.

”In addition to this guaranteed security, apart from this Alliance – in which we fight together, supporting Ukraine in its fight for freedom and for the security of Europe – Poland’s defenses and the Polish army are also important”.