The discussion panel began with Dionizy Smoleń, who noted that the question “Will we go to war?” is closely tied to the current geopolitical situation. He proposed dividing the conversation into three parts: an analysis of Poland’s security situation, a discussion on the significance of defense for young people, and a Q&A session with the audience.
The first question, directed to Professor Katarzyna Pisarska, concerned the impact of Donald Trump’s election as President of the United States on Polish-American relations. The Chair of the Council of the Kazimierz Pułaski Foundation emphasized that we live in exceptionally uncertain times and praised the organizers for addressing such an important topic. In her response, she pointed out that Donald Trump’s greatest strength and curse is his unpredictability, making it very challenging to forecast the directions of his foreign policy. However, she stressed the need for Poland to pursue proactive policies toward the U.S. and maintain close relations with the American president under Poland’s future leadership.
Professor Antoni Dudek, responding to a question about Poland’s defense readiness, referred to historical context. He reminded the audience that 40 years ago, Poland was part of the Warsaw Pact, and Central and Eastern Europe faced the threat of nuclear annihilation. He acknowledged Poland’s current efforts, which allocate over 4% of GDP to defense—the highest ratio in NATO. Referring to Carl von Clausewitz, he observed that defense readiness is not just about the military and equipment but also about making sound political decisions and preparing society for potential armed conflict. He emphasized that Poland should strengthen NATO and the European Union to ensure stable economic growth and border security.
Krystian Chmielewski, President of Kongsberg, focused on the state of Poland’s defense industry. He noted that it is unprepared for a potential war and called on public administration representatives to provide greater support for the Polish Armaments Group. He also encouraged young people to consider careers in the defense sector, arguing that it is a rapidly developing field with promising prospects.
In the second part of the discussion, Dionizy Smoleń asked about the prospects of reinstating compulsory military service. Katarzyna Pisarska argued that the key priority is to provide as much military support as possible to Ukraine, which is grappling with aggression from the Russian Federation. She stressed that supporting Ukraine is in Poland’s strategic interest. She also highlighted insufficient aid from Western states, expressing concern that Donald Trump might leave Ukraine without support. In her view, Europe should be prepared to take over the U.S.’s role as the main provider of aid to Ukraine. She concluded by stating that we are no longer living in pre-war times but already in wartime, pointing to the aggressive hybrid actions of Russia, Iran, and North Korea.
Professor Antoni Dudek disagreed with his predecessor’s opinion, asserting that Europe is incapable of replacing the U.S. as the primary supplier of military aid. He noted that the European defense industry is in crisis and that its recovery will take many years. Regarding compulsory military service, he deemed its return in its previous form pointless. He proposed an alternative in the form of summer defense training camps, which would allow young people to acquire basic military skills. He also criticized the lack of societal preparedness for potential conflict, arguing that it is unacceptable for an entire generation to lack the ability to handle weapons or provide first aid.
Krystian Chmielewski highlighted the impact of new technologies on the nature of warfare in the 21st century. He emphasized the need to combine investments in the defense industry with increased innovation. He expressed hope that the new EU Commissioner for Defense and Space, Andrius Kubilius, would ensure better coordination of European defense industries.
At the conclusion of the panel, the speakers answered questions from participants, addressing topics such as the target size of the Polish army, modernization of the armed forces, and defense cooperation with the Baltic states.
