Poland has turned the war next door into fast growth and a huge military buildup, which is good news for its economy and its clout in Europe, but costly for taxpayers.

• Poland is now the EU's sixth-biggest economy, passing Belgium, Sweden, Ireland and Austria.
• Its economy grew more than twice as fast as the EU average last year, helped by spending, investment, EU money and defense.
• Defense spending has hit about 5% of the economy, the highest of any European NATO country, and Warsaw wants Europe's largest army.
• Drone and anti-drone budgets have exploded, and Poland is one of the biggest buyers of Taiwanese drones.
• Ordinary Poles are not that rich yet: income per person is still below the EU average, and the military bill falls on the government.

Outlook: If this keeps up, Europe's center of power shifts east, with Poland sitting alongside Germany and France instead of just guarding the border.