Warsaw, July 11:  Against the backdrop of heightened regional tensions, General Wieslaw Kukula, chief of staff of the Polish armed forces, has issued a directive for the military to prepare for a “full-scale conflict.” This decision comes as Poland intensifies its defensive posture along the eastern border with Russia and Belarus, where troop numbers are set to increase from 6,000 to 8,000 by August.

Emphasizing the need to shift focus towards conventional warfare readiness, General Kukula stated, “Today, we need to prepare our forces for full-scale conflict, not asymmetric warfare.”

Poland’s military, currently 190,000 strong, is planning a substantial expansion, aiming to add 300,000 personnel in the coming years. Deputy Defence Minister Pawel Bejda highlighted the importance of swift deployment capabilities, aiming to establish a rearguard force of 9,000 soldiers capable of rapid mobilization within 48 hours.

The situation is compounded by recent joint military exercises involving Chinese troops in Belarus, near the Polish border. Dubbed “Eagle Assault,” these drills, initiated in Brest, Belarus, coincide with a NATO summit, raising concerns among Western allies about regional stability and geopolitical intentions.

Martin Sebena, an expert on China-Europe relations at the University of Hong Kong, noted that these exercises could bolster support for Russia and its regional allies. He underscored the strategic implications amid ongoing tensions, including Belarus’s use of migrant flows as a political lever against Poland and its Western allies.

The developments underscore a tense geopolitical landscape, with Poland preparing for potential conflict scenarios while international observers monitor the situation closely.