POLAND DEFENSE -- {USAGM}
Metadata
- POLAND DEFENSE -- {USAGM}
- August 16, 2023
- Content Type Package
- Language English
- Transcript/Script POLAND DEFENSE HEADLINE: Huge Military Parade Shows Poland’s Changing Attitude on Defense TEASER: Parade in Warsaw aimed at projecting strength and showing readiness border in the wake of Russia’s aggression in Ukraine PUBLISHED: 08/15/2023 at 8:32 pm BYLINE: Lesia Bakalets CONTRIBUTOR: DATELINE: Warsaw VIDEOGRAPHER: Daniil Batushchak SCRIPT EDITORS: LR, DLJ PRODUCER: VIDEO SOURCES: VOA ORIGINAL, REUTERS PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV X_ RADIO_ X TRT: 3:23 VID APPROVED BY: mia TYPE: TVPKG UPDATE: )) ((INTRO:)) [[Poland on Tuesday held its largest military parade in 29 years -- a display of strength aimed at neighbors Belarus and Russia and a sign that Polish attitudes on defense are changing in the wake of Russian aggression in Ukraine. For VOA, Lesia Bakalets reports from Warsaw.]] ((video REUTERS showing the parade)) ((NARRATOR)) Two thousand soldiers, 200 units (pronounced the “t” more clearly) of Polish and foreign-made military equipment and 92 aircraft. This was Warsaw’s largest military parade in almost three decades. ((NAT SOUND)): video REUTERS showing the part of the parade ((video REUTERS showing the parade)) The parade included M1A1 Abrams tanks bought from the U.S., K2 tanks, and K9 self-propelled Howitzers bought from South Korea. Also, HIMARS rocket launchers and Patriot air defense systems. Polish military analyst Jaroslaw Wolski says the parade is a display of the country's military power. [[For RADIO: He says Poland cannot afford to show weakness because, unfortunately, the only language Russians and Belarusians understand is the language of strength. He says we demonstrate new equipment and that our army is changing." ((video zoom)) ((Jaroslaw Wolski, Military Analyst – MALE IN POLISH)) ((Mandatory zoom)) "We cannot afford to show weakness because, unfortunately, the only language Russians and Belarusians understand is the language of strength. We demonstrate new equipment and that our army is changing." ((NARRATOR)) ((video REUTERS showing the Polish Army)) According to Wolski, changes in the Polish army began long before the war in Ukraine started. But Russia's aggression in Ukraine accelerated Poland’s modernization of its arsenal. [[For RADIO: Wolski says two factors played a role: an increase in funding and the need to urgently backfill a shortage of equipment since Poland transferred about 30 percent of its land forces’ equipment to Ukraine.]] ((video zoom)) ((Jaroslaw Wolski, Polish Political Scientist – POLISH, MALE)) ((Mandatory zoom)) “Two factors played a role here: an increase in funding and the need to urgently fill the shortage of equipment since we transferred about 30 percent of the land forces equipment to Ukraine.” ((video REUTERS showing the parade)) ((NARRATOR)) Since 2010, the Polish army has been a fully professional force after mandatory military conscription was abolished. Most soldiers come through military schools. To increase the army's size, Poland recently instituted a system that gives volunteers a chance to become reserves, explains Colonel Justyna Balik, a spokeswoman for Poland’s central military recruitment office. ((RADIO VERSION: She says candidates have 27 days of basic training where they experience military discipline and learn tactics and shooting. After that, she says, they take an oath and decide if they want to stay. If they want to continue serving in the army, they choose a specialty and go to study further. ((video VOA original)) ((Col. Justyna Balik, Polish Central Military Recruitment – POLISH, FEMALE)) “The candidates have 27 days of basic training: military discipline, tactics, shooting. After that, the soldiers take an oath and decide: if they want to continue serving in the army, they choose a specialty and go to study further.” ((video VOA original showing Ms. Balik)) ((NARRATOR)) According to Colonel Balik, 70 percent of volunteers decide to continue their career in the army. ((FOR Radio: This year, she says, our goal is to recruit 25,000 soldiers into the army. But we know that we will exceed it, she says. We already have more than 21,000 volunteer military personnel.” ((video VOA original)) ((Col. Justyna Balik, Polish Central Military Recruitment – POLISH, FEMALE)) “This year, our plan to recruit soldiers into the army is 25,000. But we know that we will exceed it. We already have more than 21,000 voluntary military personnel.” ((video REUTERS showing Polish Army)) ((NARRATOR)) By 2035, Poland plans to almost double the size of its army, from 175,000 to 300,000. Waldemar Skrzypczak, a retired general and former commander of the Polish Land Forces explains why the buildup is necessary. [[For RADIO: He says Poland should be a powerful part of NATO’s forces on the eastern flank. We feel safe because of NATO membership, he says, and believe the alliance will protect us, with our participation of course. Therefore, Poland wants its army to be ready for defense. ((Waldemar Skrzypczak, Former Commander of the Polish Land Forces – POLISH, MALE)) ((Mandatory zoom)) “We should be a powerful part of NATO's forces on the eastern flank. We feel safe because of NATO membership and believe the alliance will protect us. But of course, with our participation. Therefore, Poland wants its army to be ready for defense.” ((video REUTERS showing Polish Army)) ((NARRATOR)) But military analysts say there is currently no direct threat from Russia or Belarus to Poland, thanks to the presence of NATO troops on Polish soil. Observers also say Wagner Group mercenaries on the Poland-Belarus border are too few to be a significant danger and the Polish army has learned to deal with provocations from both Russia and Belarus. ((Lesia Bakalets, for VOA News, Warsaw)
- NewsML Media Topics Arts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
- Network VOA
- Location (dateline) Warsaw
- Embargo Date August 15, 2023 22:32 EDT
- Byline Lesia Bakalets, for VOA News
- Brand / Language Service Voice of America - English