On Wednesday, 28 January 2026, in Warsaw, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz met with representatives of the Military Diplomatic Corps accredited in Poland. The meeting focused on reviewing the most important events of the past year that have contributed to strengthening defense capabilities in the context of international security, as well as on outlining directions and priorities for mutual cooperation. It also provided an opportunity to thank the defense attachés for their joint efforts, the development of international cooperation, and the strengthening of defense activities within NATO and the European Union.
Photos: Ministry Of National Defence
“I would like to thank all of you for your service to your respective countries, carried out in cooperation with Poland. Our goal is to build a strong and secure Poland in a friendly environment, to seek friends rather than point out enemies. We must protect ourselves from those who threaten us, from those who provoke and wage hybrid warfare, and who spread instability not only against us, but especially against our eastern neighbor, Ukraine. I am referring to the Russian Federation, which, according to our strategy, poses the greatest threat to Europe’s security, peace, and stability,” said Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.
“We are a state that values peace. We are a state that wants peace. But peace needs strength in order to defend itself. It is a beautiful value, yet on its own it does not provide the means for self-defense. With beautiful words and noble strategies alone, we will not be able to defend ourselves if we lack sufficient strength. That is why the defense budget we adopted this year exceeds 200 billion PLN. It is one of the largest budgets in nominal terms among NATO countries and amounts to nearly 5 percent [of GDP]. (…) Why does Poland spend so much on armaments? Why do we invest so heavily in our defense today? We have no plans to attack anyone. Our plans are focused on building strength and security for NATO’s eastern flank, the European Union, Poland, and our allies. We want to be the strongest among the strong,” the Deputy Prime Minister added.
In his address, the head of the Ministry of National Defence emphasized the value of building alliances, including the transatlantic alliance.
“We will continue to build the strength of our alliances in the coming years, including in 2026. Poland’s role is to reinforce transatlantic ties. There is no NATO without the United States, and there is no strength or global influence of the United States without its participation in the North Atlantic Alliance. These are interconnected vessels. NATO grew out of transatlantic relations and must continue to be based on them. (…) Our transatlantic bond is existentially important for Poland, for Europe, and for the United States. I am deeply convinced of this, especially among commanders and veterans of our joint operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and all those places where, as allies, we stood shoulder to shoulder with our friends from the United States, France, the United Kingdom, and other NATO countries. Everywhere today, within Polish military contingents, in United Nations missions, NATO missions, and European Union missions, where we jointly defend not only values but, in fact, the lives of the citizens of the areas in which we operate (…) we are always treated with respect and seriousness. This is the respect we expect for our veterans,” stressed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.
“Poland does not limit its engagement solely to cooperation within the European Union, or to joint assistance for Ukraine provided by NATO and the EU. Our activities and cooperation also extend to other parts of the world. A very important partner, due to modernization and technological advancement, is, and will remain in the coming years, South Korea. Thank you for all the good contracts, especially those signed last year, the polonization of the K2 Black Panther tank, whose production will begin at Huta Łabędy in Gliwice, as well as the acquisition of capabilities to produce missiles in Poland for the Chunmoo launchers. This is a clear signal not only of cooperation between defense industries, but also of the transfer of production capabilities to Poland, to Europe, and of growing independence in this area,” the minister emphasized.
“To all those who work to build security, I wish a good year. I believe that the strength of our allied relations will be greater than any evil or neo-imperial ambitions, and that those who destroy peace and power, who sacrifice the lives of hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of their own citizens, will ultimately lose and be defeated. They will also be held accountable, perhaps first and foremost by their own fellow citizens. We will always stand guard over the building of strength, security, and peace. I thank all military representatives accredited in Poland for their mission and for these relationships. I wish you a good and safe year,” Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz concluded.