At a press conference, Kosiniak-Kamysz highlighted what he called the three guiding principles for the Polish defense ministry under his leadership: fostering national unity, building strong alliances and modernizing the military.
He outlined how defense spending increased in the country in recent years.
"In 2023, when the previous government stepped down, defense spending was PLN 137 billion," he said.
"This year, it has risen to PLN 158.8 billion, and next year it will reach PLN 186.6 billion, which represents 4.7 percent of the GDP," he added.
Kosiniak-Kamysz described the defense budget as the nation's "insurance policy," saying that the government of which he is part is not looking to cancel contracts signed by previous administrations but intends to see them through despite challenges.
Praising South Korean military equipment, Kosiniak-Kamysz noted that his deputy Paweł Bejda recently visited South Korea, where he negotiated the terms for the production of K2 tanks ordered by Poland.
Kosiniak-Kamysz also announced an increase in the recruitment limits for compulsory military service.
Poland's armed forces have exceeded 200,000 personnel and are expected to reach 207,500 by the end of the year, he said.
Since December 2022, the Polish defense ministry has signed around 100 contracts worth approximately PLN 120 billion, with a significant portion being executed by the Polish defense industry, according to Kosiniak-Kamysz.
The ministry expects to finalize around 150 contracts by the end of the year, he told reporters.
(jh/gs)
Source: PAP