During a landmark meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden, Polish President Andrzej Duda reiterated his call for NATO member states to commit more financially to their military budgets in light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. President Duda emphasized the importance of NATO in maintaining global security and proposed an increase in defense spending from the long-standing target of 2% to 3% of GDP for each member country.
“This year marks the 25th anniversary of Poland, along with the Czech Republic and Hungary, joining NATO—the world’s most powerful alliance. Celebrating this momentous occasion at the White House is truly unprecedented,” Duda began, acknowledging the historical significance of the meeting and expressing gratitude on behalf of millions of Poles to President Biden.
Duda highlighted Poland’s commitment to NATO’s mission, referencing the country’s military contributions to conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. “The attack on Ukraine by Russia has underscored the crucial role of NATO in safeguarding our collective security. This is why I am advocating for a 3% GDP defense spending benchmark. The 2% target was sufficient years ago, but we are in a different time now,” President Duda stated.
The Polish leader also pointed out Poland’s alignment with American perspectives on security and its efforts to not just meet but exceed the suggested defense spending goal. Duda expressed that enhancing Europe’s security would be a top priority when Poland assumes the presidency of the European Union in the upcoming year.
Furthermore, Duda discussed the significance of American military hardware, such as Apache helicopters and HIMARS rocket systems, in bolstering Europe’s defense capabilities. He expressed a desire to see an increase in these systems’ presence in Europe, along with greater production capabilities, potentially within Poland itself. This, he argued, presents a valuable opportunity for American investors in Poland.