Far right’s rise in rapidly re-arming Germany gives Poland cause for concern

Key Points:

• Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski warned that the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party's electoral gains could turn Germany's military buildup into a security risk for Europe, despite Poland's support for a stronger German army.
• The AfD won a record 43.8% in Saxony-Anhalt's recent election, more than doubling its 2021 result, while Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s Christian Democratic Union suffered its worst-ever performance in the state.
• Sikorski and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk expressed deep concern over the AfD's rise, citing historical memories of German aggression and warning against far-right influence in a militarized Germany.
• Germany is pursuing significant military expansion, aiming to make the Bundeswehr the strongest conventional army in Europe, with increased spending and plans for long-range weapons to deter Russia amid the Ukraine conflict.
• Despite its regional success, the AfD remains in opposition at the federal level, where mainstream German parties maintain a strict policy of non-cooperation with the far-right to prevent a repeat of the Nazi era.