Controversy surrounding Leopard tanks. Kosiniak-Kamysz under fire

The Minister of National Defense, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, announced the decision to relocate Leopard 2 tanks to units in the west of the country, which sparked a heated debate among politicians. Critics of this decision claim that such a move may weaken the defense of Poland’s eastern regions.

Kosiniak-Kamysz said that Poland is receiving further batches of M1 Abrams and K2 tanks. Therefore, Leopard 2A5 tanks currently stationed in the east will return to their home units in the west, from where they were withdrawn in 2017.

– The most modern tanks, such as Abrams and K2, will be deployed on the country’s eastern borders. In turn, Leopards require technical inspections, and the best service facilities are available in units in western Poland. These are the recommendations of the General Staff, explained Kosiniak-Kamysz.

A new defense strategy

This move is part of a broader strategy to modernize the armed forces. Cezary Tomczyk, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Defense, explained that each armored division will specialize in operating one type of tanks – one division will have Leopards, the other K2, and the third Abrams. This improvement is intended to increase the operational and logistical effectiveness of the army.

In the 11th Lubusz Armored Division, which was the first user of Leopards in Poland, a comprehensive infrastructure was created for their servicing and crew training. Meanwhile, the 18th Mechanized Division is undergoing training on Abrams aircraft at the specially established “Abrams Academy”, although the main deliveries of these machines are scheduled for 2025-2026. Poland already has 116 older versions of Abrams, purchased from the US Marine Corps.

K2 tanks are successively delivered to the 20th Cavalry Brigade of the 16th Mechanized Division. Currently, Poland has 62 tanks of this type, and it is expected to receive another 22 by the end of the year.

The decision to deploy each type of tank in separate divisions is justified from the point of view of logistics and operational efficiency. This will allow for better management of resources in each unit.

Already in March 2024, the first information about the return of Leopards to the 11th Armored Division appeared, when local media, such as Gazeta Lubuska, wrote about the appointment of the mayor of Żagań, Henryk Janowicz, to the team of advisors to the Minister of National Defense. Janowicz expressed hope for the revival of Żagań, where Leopards will return, which will involve investments in infrastructure and the development of local military bases.

The relocation of Leopard tanks to the east of the country resulted from a decision made in 2017 by the then Minister of Defense, Antoni Macierewicz. It was then decided that Leopards would better protect NATO’s eastern flank, and older T-72 tanks, previously stationed in Wesoła, were sent to Żagań. The current management of the Ministry of National Defense believes that moving the Leopards to the west will not affect the country’s defense, and the eastern border will remain adequately secured thanks to modern defense systems.

– We will defend every piece of Polish land in accordance with NATO guidelines. We are building the “East Shield”, i.e. fortifications on the eastern border – assured Kosiniak-Kamysz.

A wave of criticism

The decision to move the tanks was criticized by former Minister of Defense, Mariusz Błaszczak, who expressed concern on social media. He pointed out that Leopards should remain in the east, at least until the deliveries of Abrams and K2 are completed. He also criticized the reduction in orders for K2 tanks, accusing the current management of the Ministry of National Defense of not implementing ambitious plans to purchase more modern tanks.

Błaszczak added that, according to his knowledge, senior military officials associated with the Warsaw Pact era put pressure on the decision to withdraw the Leopards. He emphasized that such decisions may lead to a return to old concepts of defending Polish territory, which were focused on the Vistula line, and not on the entire eastern border.