New York: Poland’s president issued a fervent plea on Monday for fellow members of the NATO alliance to ramp up their defense spending to 3% of their gross domestic product (GDP). Against the backdrop of Russia’s aggressive stance and its ongoing invasion of Ukraine, President Andrzej Duda emphasized the urgency of bolstering defense capabilities across the alliance.
Duda’s call to action, delivered both domestically and internationally, coincided with the eve of a significant diplomatic engagement: a visit to the White House, where US President Joe Biden is set to host Duda alongside Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Tuesday.
“In the face of the war in Ukraine and Russia’s growing imperial aspirations, the countries comprising NATO must act boldly and uncompromisingly,” declared Duda in a Monday evening address to the Polish nation.
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His impassioned appeal coincides with Poland’s commemoration of the 25th anniversary of its NATO accession, alongside the Czech Republic and Hungary, on March 12, 1999. Reflecting on this milestone, Duda remarked, “Poland is proud to have been a part of it for 25 years. There has been and there is no better guarantor of security than the North Atlantic Alliance.”
“The war in Ukraine has clearly shown that the United States is and should remain the leader in security issues in Europe and the world,” emphasized Duda in his address to the nation. “However, other NATO countries must also take greater responsibility for the security of the entire alliance and intensively modernize and strengthen their troops.”
Duda’s call for increased defense spending comes as Sweden’s flag was ceremonially raised at NATO headquarters in Brussels, solidifying its status as the 32nd member of the trans-Atlantic alliance. With Finland having joined NATO the previous year, Duda hailed these developments as historic, signaling a notable expansion of the alliance’s strength. Nonetheless, he stressed the need for further decisive actions.
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While NATO members committed in 2014 to boost defense spending to 2% of GDP following Russia’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula, many, including Germany, still fall short of this benchmark. In stark contrast, Poland currently allocates 4% of its GDP to defense, emerging as a leading spender within the alliance, alongside the United States.
“Russia’s imperialistic ambitions and aggressive revisionism are pushing Moscow toward a direct confrontation with NATO, with the West and, ultimately, with the whole free world,” warned Duda in an op-ed published in The Washington Post.
Highlighting the gravity of the situation, Duda underscored the need for the United States and Poland to lead by example and inspire others. “The Russian Federation has switched its economy to war mode. It is allocating close to 30 percent of its annual budget to arm itself,” he emphasized, painting a sobering picture of the current geopolitical landscape.
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However, the Biden administration has tempered expectations regarding Duda’s proposal to raise the defense spending target for NATO countries. While acknowledging improvements in meeting the 2% threshold, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller indicated that discussions on additional proposals may be premature at this stage.
Following his visit to the US, Duda is scheduled to travel to Brussels for a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, underscoring Poland’s commitment to fostering dialogue and collaboration within the alliance.
