Speaking during a holiday gathering with the 15th Gołdap Anti-Aircraft Regiment in northeastern Poland, Tusk said the national uniform now symbolizes safety and security in every Polish home.
“It is a source of genuine personal happiness that after so many years of an independent Poland, the Polish soldier’s uniform brings hope and joy across the country,” Tusk told soldiers and military staff at a pre-Christmas meal. “We feel safe thanks to you.”
The prime minister evoked the events of December 16, 1970, when Polish shipyard workers came under fire, recalling that even then people clung to the belief the Polish Army would never turn its guns on its own citizens. Eleven years later, he witnessed similar turmoil as a young adult. “Those memories make it all the more meaningful that today, decades into our independence, the image of our armed forces inspires trust rather than fear,” he said.
Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, who joined Tusk at the gathering, emphasized that widespread public support for the military allows Poland to steadily increase its defense budget. He noted that the Polish Armed Forces now number 208,000 troops.
Kosiniak-Kamysz highlighted air defense as a top priority, referencing the purchase and activation of the U.S.-made Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) for Poland’s air defense network. “Its full operational launch will take place this week in Sochaczew,” he said.
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Source: PAP