https://apnews.com/article/poland-donald-tusk-military-training-security-62b83d6e7b5d63ee8ea09e921e378684
Polish leader Tusk plans large-scale military training for all adult males to boost reserves
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Friday that his government is working on a plan to prepare large-scale military training for every adult male in response to the changing security situation in Europe.
The military training would create a reserve force that is “adequate to possible threats,” Tusk said in a major speech on security to Poland’s lower house of parliament, or Sejm.
He said that there’s a need for an army of 500,000 soldiers, which would include reservists.
Last year, the Polish government said that the military was made up of around 200,000 soldiers and was to grow to 220,000 this year with the objective of increasing it to about 300,000.
But security fears have grown far more dramatic in recent weeks, as Russia continues to pound Ukraine with missiles and drones, and as the Trump administration has withdrawn military and intelligence support for Ukraine while putting its commitments to NATO in question.
“Today we are talking about the need for a half-million army in Poland,” Tusk said.
After his speech, Tusk explained to reporters that he wasn’t considering a return of universal military service, but rather a reserve system based on the model in Switzerland. In that country, every man is obliged to serve in the military or an alternative civilian service, while women can volunteer if they choose.