Full Breakdown
Poland’s Defence Minister Urges Europe to Adopt “War-Mode” Production
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Core Call for a Shift in Defence Mindset
Poland’s Minister of National Defence and Deputy Prime Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz argued that Europe must move to a “war-mode” approach in its defence sector or risk future vulnerability. Speaking at a press conference during the Warsaw Security Forum, he warned that the current European model—shaped by decades of under-investment and fragmentation—cannot match the output of rival powers.
Background and Context
Kosiniak-Kamysz highlighted Russia’s pre-invasion shift to wartime production, noting that the Russian Federation already operates under a war-mode mindset. He contrasted this with Europe’s slower pace of rearmament despite the strongest annual increase in defence spending among NATO members since the Cold War.
Data and Statistics
- An Estonian intelligence report estimates Russia will allocate 7.5 % of its GDP to the armed forces in 2026.
- The same report states Russia produced roughly seven million artillery, mortar, tank and rocket rounds in 2025 and now expends 10,000–15,000 rounds per day in Ukraine.
- A leaked European defence-readiness report projects the 27 EU member states plus Norway will manufacture only about two million 150 mm ammunition shells this year.
- EU defence spending in 2025 was estimated at €418 billion, representing 2.2 % of the bloc’s GDP.
- Poland, according to the U.S. envoy to NATO Matthew Whitaker, spends 4.7 % of its GDP on core defence capabilities.
Official Statements & Responses
Kosiniak-Kamysz asserted that the “time has come” for Europe to multiply its defence production, warning that failure to do so would be a “costly” mistake affecting future generations. He framed the call as a preventive measure, emphasizing that Europe must prepare to defend itself rather than merely react to external threats.
Implications for European Defence
If European nations adopt the advocated “war-mode,” the bloc could close the ammunition gap with Russia and reduce reliance on fragmented national programmes. However, achieving the required production scale would demand coordinated investment, supply-chain integration, and policy alignment across EU member states, challenging the existing defence-spending framework.