Polish experts urge structural reforms as defense spending surges

Polish military analysts and think tanks are calling for deep structural reforms to match the nation's rapidly expanding defense spending. Poland’s defense budget is projected to reach 200.1 billion PLN in 2026, representing 4.81 percent of gross domestic product—among the highest levels in NATO.

Recent reports from institutions such as Rozwój Plus and the Defence Institute warn that acquiring advanced military hardware, including Abrams tanks, F-35 fighters, and HIMARS rocket launchers, is insufficient to deter potential aggression without institutional overhaul. Experts highlight systemic weaknesses in mobilization capabilities, command structures, and procurement, describing aspects of the current apparatus as experiencing "strategic drift."

Analysts argue that transforming historic expenditure into genuine combat readiness requires modernized acquisition frameworks and stronger domestic industrial integration to ensure long-term national security.

Sources: Defence24, Portal obronny, Rzeczpospolita, TVP info