The military enjoys record levels of public trust, but what if it were necessary to join the army?

Sunday, Dec 29, 2024

Gazeta Wyborcza

Polish military readiness and public support for conscription are discussed alongside international trends in defense policy.

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[This is an automatically generated summary, for reference only]

General WiesÅ‚aw KukuÅ‚a stated that Poland is a generation ready to defend its country with arms and emphasized the need to build armed forces prepared for such actions, while also advocating for universal service. Initial public reaction was mixed, leading experts to question if this signaled an impending war. The General’s staff later clarified his message was about mobilization for duty and promoting a winning culture. Despite historical context of military involvement in Polish history and past resistance to mandatory service, the current situation due to the war in Ukraine has reignited discussions on defense readiness. Poland currently maintains a professional army with basic military service suspended since 2010. The Ministry of National Defence recently issued regulations regarding this service, which sparked public debate, though officials clarified it was preparation for any scenario and not an immediate return to mandatory service. Public opinion shows high trust in the Polish armed forces, and some polls indicate support for a return to universal military service, while others show opposition. Internationally, other countries are also reconsidering their defense policies; for example, Italy has seen calls for reintroducing conscription, Bulgaria is discussing various training forms despite not reinstating mandatory service, Croatia plans potential mandatory service in 2025 pending political decisions, Austria maintains its compulsory military service, and the Czech Republic relies on a professional army.

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