The decision by Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz to relocate Leopard 2 tanks to western Poland has ignited strong opposition, particularly from political figures aligned with the opposition. Former Defense Minister Mariusz Błaszczak expressed concerns that this move weakens the defense of Poland’s eastern regions.
Government’s Defense and Opposition’s Criticism
Kosiniak-Kamysz defended the decision by pointing to the ongoing arrival of new tanks, including the M1 Abrams and K2 models. He believes that Leopard 2A5 tanks can safely return to their original bases in the west, as they were temporarily stationed in the east in 2017. Błaszczak, however, insists the Leopards should stay until the Abrams and K2 deliveries are completed.
Błaszczak further criticized the current defense ministry’s limited orders for K2 tanks and accused it of not following through on more ambitious modernization plans. He also suggested that older military officials, influenced by Cold War-era strategies, pushed for the Leopards’ withdrawal, potentially reviving outdated territorial defense concepts focused on the Vistula River.