Polish President Duda Affirms South Korean Weapons Will Bolster Polandโs Defense, Not Ukraineโs
During an official visit to South Korea, Polish President Andrzej Duda emphasized that the recently acquired South Korean weapons will strictly serve Polandโs defense needs, rejecting any notions of transferring them to Ukraine. In remarks reported by Polish media outlet RMF24, Duda stated, โThere is no scenario under consideration in which we hand over weapons, which we have recently purchased for billions of zลoty from the pockets of our taxpayers, to anyone. These weapons are to serve the security and defense of the Republic of Poland.โ
Dudaโs comments came as he concluded a significant four-day visit to South Korea, focusing on enhancing defense and economic ties between the two nations. During the trip, Poland secured a deal worth approximately $5.7 billion for main battle tanks and howitzers, a move aimed at strengthening its military capabilities amid regional tensions.
The discussions between Duda and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol also touched on the increasing threats posed by North Korea and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which has reportedly seen North Korean troops deployed in support of Russia.
While South Korea has maintained a policy of not directly supplying weapons to Ukraine, President Yoon indicated that this position might be reconsidered based on developments regarding North Korean troop activities in Russia.
As the situation evolves, both nations reiterated the importance of their cooperation in addressing shared security challenges, underlining the critical need to bolster their defenses in an increasingly volatile geopolitical landscape.
