Poland Becomes a Defense Colossus – CEPA

Poland was rearming even before Russia s war of aggression against Ukraine was launched in February 2022; the program went into overdrive once all-out hostilities were underway.

Poland and Ukraine immediately strengthened their relationship, with the former serving as Ukraine s leading political supporter, logistics hub, refugee sanctuary, as well as a significant weapons provider (the current grain export dispute notwithstanding.)

Poland also focused hard on what the war meant for its strategic position and the risks it now faced not just the possible spill-over from Ukraine, but also its long border with Belarus, which has become very largely a Kremlin puppet state with Russian short-range nuclear weapons on its territory.

The conclusions were grim and led to rapid decisions. Poland was already spending 2.4% of GDP on defense by 2022, ranking third in NATO after the United States and Greece.

The government decided much more was required. In 2023, Poland estimates it will spend more than 4% GDP on defense, which would be the highest proportion in NATO, as well as the highest proportion of the budget spent on equipment (over 50%.)

As Europe s sixth-largest economy, by far the largest on the Eastern Flank, these figures translate into very substantial increases in personnel and hardware.

via cepa.org

Poland, pros and cons.

Friendly people and fierce it turns out as well.

Traditionalist old people like me; younger people not so much, but what can you do.

Warsaw is a cool, historic city but also feels like a big graveyard, which sadly it is.

Supposed to have some biggish mountains somewhere.

Big forests.

Great food and vibrant restaurant scene in Warsaw and other cities as well I hear.

Language so difficult no sense wasting your time trying to learn it, aside from Hello, Goodbye, Can you direct me to the restroom?, etc.

Possible refuge if US descends into civil war. Portugal and west of Ireland also worth looking at. BION France (south of) also a possibility; lots of Catholics there I hear.

Close to Ukraine where evidently my son and daughter in law live.