As Trump unsettles Europe, Poland begins largest overhaul of its navy to tackle 'Russian threat'

Key Highlights

• Reuters filePoland has upgraded its navy, the biggest of its kind since the Cold War, building advanced capabilities that were long overdue amid Russia’s continued military activity in the Baltic Sea. The country is building three frigates at Gdynia on Poland’s northern Baltic coast.
• It will also purchase three Swedish submarines in November this year.
• From launching new minesweepers to constructing a rescue ship, Poland is making sure its navy does not lag. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADThese acquisitions aim to remedy decades of naval under-investment.
• The current fleet is ageing significantly, consisting of a single Soviet-era submarine transferred in 1986 and two US frigates dating back to the 1970s. More from World Russia rejoices surge in gold prices while world complains — it reaps $216 bn windfall More 5th-gen fighter jets with China, more combat-hardened pilots in Russia: UK report flags what worries WestPaweł Bejda, Poland’s deputy defence minister, said, “The Russian threat is spreading and we cannot ignore now their hybrid warfare, as seen for example with the rupturing of cables.
• Poland needs to be a very active participant in ensuring security in the Baltic Sea.”‘Zero to hero’As Moscow continues to threaten European security, the Polish navy has upgraded itself from “zero to hero”, said Jan Grabowski, a board member of PGZ, which owns the Gdynia yard. The warships are being built under a budget of €3.5 billion, with a partnership with PGZ and British defence manufacturer Babcock. In 2025, Poland became NATO’s top spender by GDP percentage (4.7 per cent), investing tens of billions to overhaul its military.