He made the announcement during the "Three Pillars of Security - Military, Energy, Food" conference in the north-central city of Toruń.
"The condition for the development of our country is security," Błaszczak said.
"We want peace, but if we want it, we must prepare for war," he added. "Therefore, we are strengthening the Polish army."
"We must be strong and we are getting stronger every year," Błaszczak told the conference. He added that his governing Law and Justice (PiS) party "has been consistently building the strength of the Polish army since 2015."
"We are actively developing all branches of the armed forces, including the establishment of territorial defense forces," he said. "The warnings of my political party, Law and Justice, against the resurgence of a Russian empire have proven accurate. By fortifying the Polish army, we honor the legacy of the late President Lech Kaczyński."
Speaking about "ongoing security concerns," Błaszczak announced the arrival of the first shipment of Abrams tanks from the United States to the Polish port of Szczecin.
Earlier this year, the Polish Ministry of Defense signed a contract worth approximately USD 1.4 billion with the United States for the delivery of 116 M1A1 Abrams tanks and related equipment. The acquisition aims to replenish the Polish army’s stocks after donations to Ukraine, according to officials.
The tanks were previously used by the US Marine Corps.
Poland's military modernization efforts are set to continue with a recent order for 250 state-of-the-art M1A21 SEPv3 Abrams tanks, valued at USD 4.7 billion and scheduled for delivery between 2024 and 2026.
These purchases further demonstrate Poland's commitment to enhancing its defense capabilities, officials said.
(jh/gs)
Source: PAP