Mateusz Morawiecki, head of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), drew attention on the portal rp.pl to Germany’s position within the European Union. The former Polish Prime Minister warns that Berlin, by rebuilding its military capabilities, is aiming for sustained dominance in Europe — and across various spheres. He emphasizes that “we cannot afford to be naive.”
German hegemony is a long-standing and recognizable phenomenon. Morawiecki highlights in his article that this process is far from over. On the contrary — it’s gaining momentum.
Among other things, the politician points out that in recent months, anti-German sentiment has been growing in Poland, due to events on the Polish-German border related to the transfer of illegal migrants. But that’s not the only reason. Another cause, he says, is the way in which Berlin has “commemorated” Polish victims of World War II — referring to the controversial memorial stone.
According to Morawiecki, in both of these cases, the Polish authorities have simply capitulated.
Has Berlin Sensed an Opportunity?
However, Morawiecki suggests these issues may merely be a smokescreen, concealing what is truly happening in Germany — namely, the reconstruction of its military potential, which he argues must be closely monitored.
The former Prime Minister points out that for years Berlin pursued a policy of reducing the size of its army and cutting defense spending, contrary to NATO agreements. But this changed significantly when Boris Pistorius took over the German Ministry of Defense, Morawiecki notes.
He further writes that if Germany were to commit — as NATO requires — 5% of its GDP to defense, then “this would be their biggest effort since the Cold War, but also a turning point for the balance of power in Europe.” He adds that Berlin is preparing for this by “step by step lifting budgetary constraints, activating special funds, and transforming the structure of the state into a mode of wartime economic mobilization.”
A Warning from Morawiecki
At this point, the former Polish Prime Minister issues a warning. In his view, while such actions may appear to enhance the continent’s overall security, they are far from altruistic. As Morawiecki puts it, all of these moves primarily serve German industry, the German economy, and Berlin’s long-term strategic goals.
What Comes Next?
What’s more, the former Prime Minister warns against a “NATO-bis” — an alternative or parallel security structure — which, in his view, could emerge from the rise of German arms manufacturing power.
Although the project is presented as a response to collective European needs, in reality its implementation would strengthen the dominance of Berlin (and Paris), while marginalizing smaller member states. One need not look far for parallels — a similar dynamic was observed during the introduction of the common currency, from which Germany reaped the greatest benefits.