EAA report casts doubt on Polish military readiness

During a debate organized by the Euro-Atlantic Association, Gen. Leon Komornicki presented a report evaluating the strength of Polish national defense capabilities. At a time when NATO forces are conducting several exercises on Polish soil to showcase the region’s military readiness, the former Deputy Chief of General Staff of the Polish Army has alluded to the weakness of the national defense system. As Rzeczpospolita reports, Gen. Komornicki believes that in it's current level of readiness, Poland would be unable to withstand an enemy attack. Komornicki believes that the belief that NATO can effectively substitute a national effort to bolster defense mechanisms is flawed. For example, according to the general’s report, a two month period of army training should have been instituted following the suspension of compulsory service. In the report's long list of the army’s mistakes and oversights is the glaringly ineffective placement of garrisons which has left a gaping section of the border exposed. In addition, the general paucity of properly trained soldiers, police, border guards, and other groups that bolster overall national defense, has left the country vulnerable. Komornicki’s statements were reiterated by Grzegorz Kwaśniak from the National Center of Strategic Studies, who told Rzeczpospolita that “naive faith in the solidarity of NATO” brings a realistic risk to the country’s defense capabilities, as it undermines the degree of domestic, on the ground involvement and training. Those in the current administration point to the fact that Komornicki’s report overlooks the costs associated with his proposals. Additionally, they point to the numerous security measures that have already been bolstered due to Russian aggression in neighboring Ukraine. And, plans for bolstering the Eastern-based armed forces that were enacted a few months ago are underway.