This is how Poland prepares for an attack by Russian forces

A persistent rain. Sandy mud on the ground, water dripping from protective helmets, dung-soaked weapons in the hands of soldiers in Poland’s territorial defense forces – roughly equivalent to the Swedish Home Guard.

It is the end of their 16-day basic training. After this, they will practice one weekend a month, year-round, at least for the duration of their three-year contract.

– To survive during an armed conflict, take care of your family and the entire local community, Lieutenant Michal explains to me when I ask about the goal of the training.

Quadrupled the defense budget in five years

It is a rapidly growing branch of the expanding Polish military.

Since 2019, Poland has quadrupled its defense budget, and it now amounts to five percent of the country’s GDP – well above NATO’s goal of two percent and even more than what the United States spends on its military. Fighter aircraft, attack helicopters, artillery systems and tanks are purchased from Germany, the United States and South Korea. At the same time, they are constantly trying to recruit more soldiers.

With neighbors like Belarus and Russia, and an ongoing war in another neighboring country – Ukraine – it is perhaps not surprising that defense is seen as a priority by all major political parties in Poland.

Strongest since the 18th century

The defense budget is almost four times larger than the Swedish one, but it is still slightly smaller than the French or German annual military budget. However, a direct comparison is difficult to make; Germany spends a large portion of its defense budget on pensions, and France has costly nuclear weapons programs that consume a significant portion of resources.

In addition, money lasts longer in Poland than in Germany and France when it comes to things like provisions, uniforms and buildings.

However you look at it, Poland is becoming a European military powerhouse – for the first time since the Polish-Lithuanian Union in the late 18th century.