Warsaw: Poland's defense minister vowed Wednesday that the country will have the "strongest and largest army in Europe" by 2030, local media reported. "By 2030, Poland will have the strongest and largest army in Europe . (and) the best organized and equipped," Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, who also serves as deputy prime minister, said in his opening address at Defence24 Days, a security and defense conference in the capital Warsaw. "This is our strategic goal, to which we are devoting all our possible actions," he added.

According to Anadolu Agency, the planned transformation includes expanding the armed forces to half a million personnel, comprising 300,000 professional soldiers and 200,000 high-readiness reservists. Kosiniak-Kamysz emphasized that the country's defense strategy relies on three pillars: a strong society, a strong army, and strong alliances, noting that national security is contingent upon the involvement of all citizens. "There is no safe Poland without people who are involved in it," he stated, highlighting the essential role of civilian participation in the event of any potential attack.

Kosiniak-Kamysz also outlined preparations for potential threats as part of what he termed "total defense," involving both military and civilian structures. He described ongoing efforts as "the largest investments in its history" in defense, with the aim to build a "strong, well-organized and managed army." Additionally, he called for increased production capacity in the defense industry, advocating for it to operate "24 hours a day, seven days a week" to meet the 2030 targets.

The defense strategy also includes strengthening domestic arms production and reducing reliance on external suppliers, with efforts to shift certain production capacities to Europe. Kosiniak-Kamysz noted the EU's growing engagement in security matters and characterized defense spending as an investment in Europe's independence. "Europe can once again be a beacon for other continents, but it must wake up, understand the threat, and respond quickly," he concluded.