Mariusz Błaszczak made the declaration in a media interview, published on Tuesday, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
Threat from Russia
The defence minister, who is also Poland’s deputy prime minister, told the i.pl website: “We know who poses a threat to Poland and where this threat comes from. In fact, we’ve been saying it for years. For Poland, the basic threat comes from Russia and its imperial ambitions.”
Poland seeks to become ‘a land superpower’
Błaszczak stressed that Poland was forming a new army division on the eastern border, as well as making “unprecedented” purchases of military equipment, to become “a true land superpower in Europe.”
He stated: “We need new units and new military structures. My aim is to build an army of at least 300,000 soldiers.”
‘Our aim is to deter the opponent’
The defence minister stressed that the Polish army “will fight for every inch of Polish territory.”
He went on to say: “And so we need to be strong, very strong, in the east of the country, as this is the main line of our security and independence.”
“Our aim is to effectively deter the opponent, and if necessary to engage in an effective defensive fight, already in the east of our country, at our borders,” Błaszczak emphasised.
Tuesday is day 321 of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
(pm)
Source: i.pl, PAP