Pegasus Scandal Clouds Poland's Israeli Defense Ties as Turkey Gains Ground

A Polish anti-corruption agency bought Israeli surveillance technology to monitor suspected criminals and political opponents. Now investigators say it never fully controlled the system—and the revelations are adding another complication to Poland’s relationship with Israel just as Turkey expands its foothold in Europe’s defense industry.

Reporting from the Warsaw Security Forum, The Media Line’s Jacob Wirtschafter examines how a spyware scandal, disagreements over Gaza, and growing concerns Russia are reshaping Poland’s military partnerships.

Polish prosecutors found that Israel’s NSO Group retained technical access to sensitive information gathered through its Pegasus spyware. Investigators could not establish whether the company actually examined intercepted records. Prime Minister Donald Tusk went further, accusing his predecessors of exposing Polish intelligence to an Israeli company and potentially Israeli intelligence. A parliamentary commission has prepared 11 criminal referrals.

Yet Poland continues buying Israeli weapons. Warsaw recently ordered approximately $110 million in Israeli coastal-surveillance radars, and Polish forces use Israeli-designed Spike anti-tank missiles. Defense strategist Jacek Bartosiak says battlefield capabilities remain central to procurement decisions, even when politics complicates the relationship.

Turkey, meanwhile, is becoming an increasingly important partner. Poland has purchased Turkish Bayraktar drones, while Turkish manufacturers have secured contracts involving electronic warfare, reconnaissance, and surveillance systems. Bartosiak identifies Turkey among Poland’s principal security allies, alongside Ukraine, Sweden, and Finland.

Europe’s rearmament drive offers enormous opportunities, but also new obstacles. The European Union’s €150 billion Security Action for Europe program favors European-made components, creating difficulties for both Turkish and Israeli suppliers. Turkish manufacturers are establishing European partnerships, while several governments are restricting purchases of Israeli weapons over Gaza.

Israel nevertheless recorded $19.2 billion in defense exports in 2025, including approximately $6.9 billion to Europe.

The original interviews in Wirtschafter’s reporting expose further complications, including allegations that Western electronics have reached Russian drone factories through intermediaries in Turkey and elsewhere.

For Poland, the decisions extend beyond choosing between Israeli and Turkish suppliers. With Russian military power threatening Europe, Warsaw must balance battlefield performance, political alliances, industrial independence, and control over sensitive technology—while determining whom it can trust with its security.