Poland displays its military might in a parade as the war continues in neighboring Ukraine

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — NATO member Poland displayed its state-of-the-art weapons and defense systems at a massive military parade Tuesday as war raged in neighboring Ukraine and ahead of parliamentary elections in two months.

President Andrzej Duda, commander-in-chief of the armed forces, said in his opening speech that the protection of eastern border of Poland it is a key element of state policy. He also noted that Poland is supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s almost 18-month aggression.

“The defense of our eastern border, the border of the European Union and of NATO is today a key element of the state interest of Poland,” Duda said.

Crowds waving red and white national flags gathered in searing temperatures reaching 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius) to view US-made Abrams tanks, HIMARS mobile artillery systems and Patriot missile systems. F-16 fighter jets, South Korean FA-50 fighters and K9 howitzers were also on display. A US Air Force F-35 roared overhead, in a sign that Poland was also buying these advanced fighter jets.

Polish-made equipment was also featured, including Krab tracked gun howitzers and Rosomak armored personnel carriers.

Some 2,000 troops, 200 vehicles and almost 100 aircraft participated. Poland’s armed forces number more than 175,000 soldiers, up from about 100,000 eight years ago, Duda said.

Since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Poland’s conservative government has focused on strengthening the military, spending more than $16 billion on tanks, interceptor missile systems and fighter jets, many of them purchased in the United States and South Korea.

Duda said Poland’s defense budget this year will be a record 137 billion zlotys ($34 billion) or about 4% of gross domestic product, the highest proportion in all of NATO.

“The goal of this great modernization is to equip the Polish armed forces and create such a defense system that no one dares to attack us, that Polish soldiers never have to fight,” Duda said.

Responding to criticism that Poland, a nation of some 37 million people, was taking out huge loans to make the purchases, Duda said: “We cannot afford to be idle, so we are strengthening our armed forces here and now. “.

Poland is bordered to the east by the Russian city of Kaliningrad; with Lithuania, another NATO member; with Russia’s key ally, Belarus, and with Ukraine.

The parade was held in the Polish capital, which was extensively destroyed during World War II, on the anniversary of the 1920 Battle of Warsaw, in which Polish troops defeated Bolshevik forces advancing towards Europe.

Military upgrades have bolstered Poland’s defense capabilities, and some items replaced Soviet- and Russian-made equipment Poland gave to Ukraine.

Poland is building one of the strongest armies in Europe to bolster deterrence against would-be aggressors and has increased troop numbers. to about 10,000 along its border with Belarus, where it has also built a wall to stop migrants coming from that direction.

Showcasing its military might is also a way for Poland’s government to garner voter support ahead of elections on Oct. 15, in which the ruling populist Law and Justice party will seek to win an unprecedented third term.