Poland is moving towards implementing mandatory military training for all adult men, a move that could significantly impact Indian-origin men holding Polish passports. Prime Minister Donald Tusk recently announced plans to establish large-scale military training programs, aiming to prepare Polish citizens for potential conflicts.
In his address to the Polish parliament, Tusk emphasized the urgency of military preparedness, citing growing threats in the region. “We will try to have a model ready by the end of this year so that every adult male in Poland is trained in the event of war, so that this reserve is comparable and adequate to the potential threats,” he stated.
This announcement has sparked discussions among Indian expatriates who have acquired Polish citizenship. Many of them, who moved to Poland for economic and professional reasons, now face the prospect of compulsory military training. Under the proposed policy, reservists and civilians alike will undergo intensive training, bolstering Poland’s military forces to a target of 500,000 personnel from the current 200,000.
The initiative aligns with Poland’s increased defense spending, which is set to reach 4.7% of its GDP this year—the highest in NATO. Tusk suggested that this figure could rise to 5% in response to the ongoing security concerns in Europe. The move follows Poland’s extensive military procurements, including deals worth $20 billion with the United States and South Korea for advanced weaponry.
For Indian-Poles, this policy raises concerns about dual obligations, given that India does not mandate military service for its citizens. Many who obtained Polish passports for the benefits of EU citizenship may now be reconsidering their options. “I moved to Poland for better career opportunities, not military service. This new requirement changes everything,” said an Indian-origin IT professional in Warsaw who recently acquired Polish nationality.
The Polish government has yet to clarify whether exemptions will be available for naturalized citizens or dual nationals. Women may also be included in military training programs, but Tusk acknowledged that “war is still to a greater extent the domain of men.”
Additionally, Poland is reassessing its stance on international military agreements, with discussions about withdrawing from the Ottawa Convention, which bans the use of anti-personnel landmines, and the Dublin Convention, which prohibits cluster munitions. The country is also exploring the idea of joining France’s nuclear umbrella, although Tusk acknowledged the complexity of such an arrangement.
The proposed military training plan has already generated anxiety among Polish citizens, including naturalized ones. As geopolitical tensions rise, Indian men holding Polish passports may soon find themselves facing new and unexpected military responsibilities in their adopted homeland.
