President Andrzej Duda summarized the outcomes of the 75th anniversary NATO summit, held in Washington. The three-day meeting of leaders from 32 countries focused on enhancing global security. President Duda emphasized the shared awareness of threats and readiness to implement measures to ensure safety and counter future dangers, particularly in Europe. He identified Russia as the primary global threat, citing its violations of international law and sovereignty.
Supporting Ukraine and Establishing JATEC in Bydgoszcz
President Duda highlighted the summit’s clear conclusions on supporting Ukraine, including the establishment of the Joint Analysis, Training, and Education Center (JATEC) in Bydgoszcz. This new institution will help integrate the Ukrainian military into NATO procedures and facilitate the exchange of wartime experiences and observations of Russian strategies between Ukrainian experts and NATO.
Significant decisions were made to bolster NATO’s eastern flank, including strengthening command structures, intensifying military exercises, expanding military infrastructure, and enhancing air and missile defense systems. The summit also focused on increasing production capacities and shortening supply chains for ammunition and weaponry.
Increased Defense Spending and Leadership Transition
President Duda advocated for NATO members to increase defense spending to at least 3% of GDP, highlighting Poland’s current expenditure of over 4% due to regional security concerns. He also expressed gratitude to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, whose tenure significantly strengthened the alliance’s presence in Eastern Europe, especially following the 2016 Warsaw Summit.