Poland has announced plans to implement mandatory military training for all adult men as part of a broader effort to strengthen its armed forces and pursue advanced defense capabilities, including nuclear options, in response to potential threats from Russia.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk unveiled the initiative during a speech to the Polish parliament on Friday, stating that the government aims to finalize the plan by the end of the year. “We are preparing large-scale military training for every adult man in Poland. Our goal is to ensure a well-trained reserve force ready for potential threats,” Tusk said.
Currently, Poland’s military includes approximately 200,000 personnel, including reservists. Tusk emphasized the need to significantly increase those numbers, noting that Ukraine’s army is four times larger and that Russia’s military has around 1.3 million fighters. “We’re talking about the need to have an army of half a million in Poland, including reservists,” he added.
In addition to increasing troop numbers, Poland is also exploring the development of nuclear and other modern weapons. Tusk suggested that Poland may withdraw from the Ottawa and Dublin Conventions, which restrict the use of anti-personnel landmines and cluster munitions. He argued that Ukraine became vulnerable after surrendering its nuclear arsenal and stated that Poland must ensure it does not face the same fate.
The move comes as the U.S. reassesses its support for Ukraine. Washington recently froze military aid to Kyiv after a public dispute between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has suggested implementing large-scale sanctions against Russia.
Tusk reiterated Poland’s commitment to Ukraine, stating, “If Ukraine remains a fully sovereign and pro-Western state, Poland and Europe will be more secure. If it loses the war or accepts a settlement that weakens its sovereignty, Poland’s geopolitical position will deteriorate.”
While military training will initially focus on men, Tusk acknowledged that women could also be included, though he noted that warfare has historically been male-dominated. Currently, women make up about 3.5% of Poland’s active military personnel.
To fund these defense initiatives, Tusk announced that Poland would shift resources from non-essential projects to bolster national security efforts.
