"I feel a sense of satisfaction with the enormous changes that have taken place in terms of Poland’s military security over the past 10 years," Duda said during a ceremony in the courtyard of the presidential palace.
Speaking alongside Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz and top military commanders, Duda said he was confident his successor would treat national defence as one of his top priorities.
He highlighted ongoing modernisation needs, including for Poland’s navy, which he said should be provided with new submarines.
Reflecting on his two terms, Duda cited Poland's strengthened defence posture, its close cooperation with NATO allies and the presence of allied forces on Polish soil, state news agency PAP reported.
He warned that Russia’s war in Ukraine and what he called a resurgence of "Russian imperialism" have worsened regional security.
"Russia is trying to devour another state and destroy the life of a neighbouring nation," Duda said. "After the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began, no one had doubts anymore—radical increases in defence spending became necessary."
Since 2015, Duda said, Poland has steadily expanded its defence capabilities, purchasing new weapons systems from the United States, South Korea, Norway and elsewhere.
He noted that most of the country’s old Soviet-era military equipment has now been replaced.
Among the key achievements he listed the creation of a multi-layered air defence system and the establishment of the Territorial Defense Force (WOT), a new branch of the military.
Duda praised the chief of the General Staff, Gen. Wiesław Kukuła, for overseeing the force's formation as its first commander.
"The Territorial Defence Force has met our expectations—and the expectations of Polish society," Duda said.
He also thanked all Polish soldiers and their families for their service and sacrifice, paying tribute to Sgt. Mateusz Sitek, who was killed in June last year while serving on the border with Belarus.
Duda expressed gratitude to all defence ministers he had worked with, thanking Kosiniak-Kamysz for advancing key procurement programmes, including the purchase of AH-64E Apache helicopters.
Kosiniak-Kamysz praised Duda for helping remove defence policy from partisan politics.
“This would not have been possible without goodwill and a shared commitment to building a strong Polish army,” the defence minister said. “These achievements will remain as a lasting legacy of our joint efforts.”
On Wednesday, President-elect Karol Nawrocki will officially become the new commander-in-chief of Poland's armed forces.
He will be sworn into office at a joint session of both houses of parliament before noon.
A handover ceremony with the armed forces is scheduled to take place later in the day at Warsaw's Piłsudski Square.
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Source: IAR, PAP, prezydent.pl