Title: Poland Holds Massive Military Parade on Armed Forces Day as Show of Strength
Subtitle: NATO-member Poland utilizes parade as a political message to Moscow and voters ahead of upcoming elections
August 15, 2023
Warsaw, Poland – In a stunning display of military might, Poland held its largest military parade since the Cold War on Tuesday. The government-led event was aimed at sending a strong message both to Moscow and to voters ahead of the upcoming elections in October.
The recent invasion of Ukraine by Russia has highlighted the need for Poland’s ruling nationalists, Law and Justice (PiS), to prioritize strengthening the country’s armed forces. With the election campaign in full swing, the massive showcase of military hardware provided an opportunity for the party to bolster its security credentials.
Held on the 103rd anniversary of Poland’s victory over the Soviet Union in the Battle of Warsaw, the Armed Forces Day parade featured 2,000 soldiers from Poland and other NATO countries. Accompanying them were 200 pieces of military equipment and 92 aircraft, creating an awe-inspiring spectacle in the capital city.
Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak addressed the troops and onlookers near the Vistula river, stating, “August 15 is not only an opportunity to pay homage to the heroes of the victorious Battle of Warsaw and to thank contemporary soldiers for defending our homeland. It is also a perfect day to show our strength, to show that we have built powerful armed forces that will effectively defend our borders without hesitation.”
Under PiS, which has been in power since 2015, the Polish government has pledged to double the size of the army and allocate approximately 4% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) to defense spending this year.
President Andrzej Duda, an ally of PiS, highlighted the difference in approach to defense between the current government and the previous administration. “The last eight years have been a time of rebuilding the Polish army,” he affirmed. “Earlier, we had the opposite situation, a decrease in the size of the Polish armed forces.”
The parade drew support from citizens across the country, such as Dariusz Gawronski, a manual worker who traveled all the way from the town of Debno to witness the display. “The parade gives a very good impression that we have something to defend ourselves with,” he said. “I personally feel safe.”
However, opposition lawmakers have accused the government of politicizing the military for personal gain. Marcin Kierwinski, a member of the liberal opposition party Civic Platform (PO), expressed his hope on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) that soldiers never again have to serve as a backdrop for political hatred.
President Duda, Defense Minister Blaszczak, and other policymakers, including Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, watched as troops marched by, while helicopters, such as Black Hawks, and jets, such as F-16s and FA-50s, flew overhead.
The parade also showcased various military equipment, including M1A1 Abrams tanks from the United States, South Korean K2 tanks, K9 self-propelled howitzers, HIMARS rocket launchers, Patriot air defense systems, and Polish-made Borsuk infantry fighting vehicles.
Overall, the military parade served as a strong statement from Poland, emphasizing its determination to protect its borders and send a message to its adversaries. The event also highlighted the country’s commitment to significantly bolster its armed forces, setting the stage for a pivotal election campaign that will likely be influenced by national security concerns.
Reporting by Kacper Pempel, Justyna Pawlak, and Alan Charlish; additional reporting by Kuba Stezycki; edited by Angus MacSwan and Alexandra Hudson.
Note: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles guide our reporting.