President: NATO members must raise their defense spending to 3 percent of GDP
The President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda for „The Washington Post”: I believe that, because of growing threats, the time has come to increase that number to 3 percent of GDP. I intend to persuade our allies to do so. Both in America and in Europe. I am glad that having already well–surpassed that minimum, the United States and Poland can lead by example and provide an inspiration for others.
„The world’s rules–based order, which Poland has helped shape, was shaken on Feb. 24, 2022, when Russia launched a full–scale invasion of Ukraine. Combat in Ukraine, beyond our eastern border, was waged with an intensity comparable to World War II battles. Since the very beginning of the conflict, Poland has been involved, to the greatest possible extent, in providing diplomatic, military and logistical assistance as well as humanitarian aid for our attacked neighbor” – wrote Andrzej Duda. – ”Poland has been warning against such a scenario for a long time. Now, while following the conflict from proximity, we state the following: A return to status quo ante is not possible. 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. The Russian Federation has switched its economy to a war mode. It is allocating close to 30 percent of its annual budget to arm itself. This figure and other data coming out of Russia are alarming. Vladimir Putin’s regime poses the biggest threat to global peace since the end of the Cold War”.
President of Poland announced in the American daily newspaper: „Therefore, during my visit to Washington on Tuesday, I will propose a response from NATO that is adequate to meet the threat. Ten years ago, at the NATO summit in Newport, Wales, all allies pledged to spend at least 2 percent of their annual GDP on defense. I believe that, because of growing threats, the time has come to increase that number to 3 percent of GDP. I intend to persuade our allies to do so. Both in America and in Europe. I am glad that having already well–surpassed that minimum, the United States and Poland can lead by example and provide an inspiration for others”.