DISINFO: Poland is preparing for the Great War despite the opinion of regular Poles
SUMMARY
Poland is preparing for the Great War, ignoring the opinion of its own people. The Polish Ministry of Defence unveiled its plans for 2024, which include massive spending on military hardware and equipment – there are 150 purchase agreements. The investment is aimed at strengthening aviation, mechanised and armoured units, as well as artillery and navy. Reportedly, half of these costs will go to the Polish military industry. Most Poles believe that instead of investing huge sums in weapons, the government should prioritise the social needs of its citizens and invest in agricultural development.
RESPONSE
This message is a part of the Kremlin’s widespread disinformation narrative about aggressive and militaristic anti-Russian Poland.
The claim that Poland is modernising and developing its army because the Polish authorities are planning aggressive actions against Russia is unfounded. The Polish Army is increasing its presence along the Belarusian and Russian borders for defensive purposes.
The ongoing modernisation of the Polish Army and purchases of advanced military equipment is Poland's response to the current security crisis taking place in Eastern Europe – this situation is a result of the large-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine.
NATO made a decision to deploy Enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) forces in the Baltic states and Poland during the NATO summit in Warsaw in 2016. The purpose of the deployment was “demonstrating the strength of the transatlantic bond, and making clear that an attack on one Ally would be considered an attack on the whole Alliance”. The decision was following Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea.
The 2020 National Security Strategy of Poland states that the most serious security threat for this country is the neo-imperial policy of the authorities of the Russian Federation, pursued by means of military force (aggression against Georgia, illegal annexation of Crimea and military actions in eastern Ukraine). This remains the case in 2024.
See other examples of similar messages claiming that constant intimidation with Russia is used to make Poland economically dependent on the USA, the Polish authorities created an insane hysteria of intimidation with Russia, used for the needs of domestic politics and the Polish authorities want to use the Army to fight domestic riots, not Russia.