Donald Tusk Unveils Plan for Mandatory Military Training for Polish Men

• Mar 7, 2025

Prime Minister announces efforts to prepare every adult male in Poland for military service amid rising security concerns.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk has revealed that work is underway to implement mandatory military training for all adult men in Poland, with full details expected in the coming months.

Addressing the Polish parliament (Sejm), Tusk emphasized the need to establish a large-scale training program to bolster the country’s defense capabilities.

“We aim to develop a comprehensive model by the end of this year to ensure that every adult male in Poland receives military training, creating a reserve force that is both substantial and capable of responding to potential threats,” he stated.

Expanding Poland’s Military Force

Comparing Poland’s current defense capacity to its regional neighbors, Tusk highlighted that Ukraine has an 800,000-strong army while Russia fields approximately 1.3 million troops. He stressed the importance of increasing Poland’s military force, including reservists, from around 200,000 to 500,000 personnel.

“We need to build an army of half a million, incorporating reservists,” he said. “If we organize this wisely, through multiple approaches—including reservist training and intensive programs for those not enlisted in the army—we can ensure they are fully prepared and competent to serve during a conflict.”

Tusk also mentioned the possibility of military training for women but acknowledged that “war remains, to a greater extent, the domain of men.”

Increased Defense Spending and Policy Shifts

Poland is already allocating 4.7% of its GDP to defense this year, the highest among NATO members. However, Tusk has called for an increase to 5% of GDP.

Additionally, he expressed support for amending the Polish constitution to make a minimum defense spending of 4% of GDP legally binding, a proposal initially put forward by President Andrzej Duda.

Tusk also suggested that Poland reconsider its stance on international arms agreements, including withdrawing from the Ottawa Convention, which prohibits the use of anti-personnel landmines, and potentially the Dublin Convention, which bans cluster munitions.

These measures, he argued, are necessary steps to strengthen Poland’s security in an increasingly volatile geopolitical landscape.