Poland Showcases Military Might at Largest Parade Since Cold War

(Patria) - The largest Polish military parade since the Cold War was held today in Warsaw, where the NATO member showcased its military might, which the government hopes will send a message to both Moscow and voters ahead of the October elections.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has made strengthening the armed forces a priority for Poland's ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party, and with the election campaign in full swing, the demonstration of military power is an opportunity to increase confidence in the government regarding defense.

The parade, held on the 103rd anniversary of Poland's victory over the Soviet Union, involved 2,000 soldiers from Poland and other NATO member states, along with 92 aircraft and 200 pieces of various weaponry and military equipment.

"August 15th is not just an opportunity to honor the heroes of the Battle of Warsaw and thank the current soldiers for defending our homeland," said Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak in front of soldiers and citizens gathered along the Vistula River.

"It is also a perfect opportunity to show strength, to show a powerful armed force that will defend our borders without hesitation," he added.

The parade featured M1A1 Abrams tanks, purchased from the United States, South Korean K2 tanks and K9 self-propelled howitzers, as well as HIMARS rocket launchers and Patriot air defense systems. Poland produces Borsuk infantry fighting vehicles and Rosomak armored personnel carriers, which also participated in the procession.

PiS, in power since 2015, claims the parade will show that it is rebuilding the army after years of underinvestment by the previous government. The party has pledged to double the size of the army and spend approximately four percent of its gross domestic product on defense this year. However, opposition MPs in the Polish parliament argue that the government is using the military for its own political gain.

"Using the Polish army for electioneering is a disgrace for PiS. No to the politicization of the army!" wrote Michal Szczerba, an MP from the largest opposition party Civic Platform (PO), on social media. PiS remains the strongest party according to most polls, but its lead is narrow and it is unlikely to win a majority. Parliamentary elections in Poland will be held on October 15th, and several referendums will be held concurrently.

(Index.hr)