Polish President Urges NATO to Raise Defense Spending

Ahead of an important Nato summit in The Hague, he inflicted the prospect of raising military budgets on the West as necessary to combat the escalating threat from Moscow.

It is anticipated that NATO reform will include a major uplift in defense contributions (core military spending at 3.5% GDP with a further 1.5% added for broader security programs) by the NATO allies. If adopted, the move would increase overall defense-related spending to 5% of GDP.

Duda said the ruling could be a “breakthrough” and “historic,” stressing the broader geopolitical significance of the move.

Poland Warns of Growing Threats, Saying Higher Spending Needed
"It would be tantamount to putting the whole alliance in danger," said Polish Defense Minister WÅ‚adysÅ‚aw Kosiniak-Kamysz of delaying the growing NATO defense budget. “Failure to reach 5 percent of GDP for defense spending by the alliance as soon as possible would pose threats to the alliance,” he told reporters Tuesday before he left for the summit.

Now that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has created concern that the Western alliance’s members may be targeted for military action, several European leaders do not automatically take for granted that intervention by the United States will follow. The result is a new defense priority for many of the countries on Russia’s periphery.

An increase in military spending is viewed not only as pushback against the immediate threat but as a way to keep the United States engaged with NATO’s security enterprise. 60% of its national budget on defense.

NATO Close to Accord on 5% Target
“So it seems that some consensus will be reached in the end on the 5 percent goal,” Polish Foreign Minister RadosÅ‚aw Sikorski, another member of the attending quartet, said Tuesday evening. An agreement appeared to be “a done deal,” he told reporters in The Hague, in a clear sign of momentum among the member states.

If approved, the proposal would represent a significant change of NATO policy in nato defense budget and reflect a broadening recognition across Europe that it is time to stand up to Russia as a permanent security threat to the West.