Polish president says NATO must urgently ramp up defense spending

Polish President Andrzej Duda calls for NATO to urgently boost defense spending to 3% amid concerns of a potential Russian attack in the coming years, with Poland already spending 4% of its GDP on defense, surpassing the US.

Mar 19, 2024 - 08:04

Polish president says NATO must urgently ramp up defense spending

Polish President Andrzej Duda stated on 18 March that NATO must urgently increase its defense spending to avoid becoming a target of Russian aggression, CNBC says. He reiterated calls for NATO to raise its spending target to 3% amid concerns about Russia’s potential attack in the coming years. Poland currently allocates 4% of its GDP to defense, surpassing even the US.

Earlier, Western officials have warned of a Russian military threat to NATO’s eastern flank, urging Europe to urgently bolster its defenses. Concerns about a potential decades-long confrontation with Russia have been expressed by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Belgian Army’s Chief of Staff Adm. Michel Hofman, Norway’s top commander General Eirik Kristoffersen, Estonia’s land forces commander Maj. Gen. Veiko-Vello Palm, and German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, emphasizing the need for a swift and robust response to ensure security.

Polish President Andrzej Duda emphasized the urgent need for NATO to boost its defense spending to prevent becoming a target of a Russian attack. In an interview with CNBC, Duda called for NATO members to increase their military contributions to 3%, citing new reports suggesting Moscow could be preparing to target the alliance within two to three years.

Citing unspecified German research, Duda indicated that new evidence suggests Russian President Vladimir Putin is intensifying his shift toward a war economy, potentially aiming to attack NATO in 2026 or 2027.

Business Insider: German intel predicts potential Russian attack on NATO from 2026 onwards

This aligns with Danish intelligence reports from February, which suggested a possible attack on NATO by Moscow within three to five years.

“The alarm bells are ringing,” Duda told CNBC.

Duda emphasized the urgency of increasing NATO’s military investment, labeling his heightened spending targets as “common sense.” He stated,

“We have two or three years to intensify our efforts, stockpile ammunition, and produce weapons to maximize European security and ensure that an invasion does not occur.”

Duda added that the goal is to establish a deterrent strong enough to prevent an attack, as none of the alliance members desire war.

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