Poland is currently NATO’s third-biggest relative spender on Defence, behind Greece (3.8%) and the United States (3.5%). That’s about to change soon.
Polish authorities announced their willingness to significantly reinforce the country’s military in the midst of the unstable security situation that can be observed in the region.
Thus, according to a press release published by the chancellery of the Prime Minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, “the good situation of public finances […] allows an unprecedented modernisation of our army. Stable and growing revenues for the state budget allow for more investment in the security of our homeland.”
#Poland will increase military spending in 2023 to 4% of its GDP.
This was announced by Polish Prime Minister Mateusz #Morawiecki. pic.twitter.com/qhe7pHSFzk
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) January 30, 2023
The 2023 budget adopted by the Polish Parliament provides for Defence expenditure of PLN 97.4 billion (approx. €20.63 billion), representing nearly 4% of the country’s GDP. Back in 2015, this figure amounted only to PLN 37 billion, or (2.2%). Since 2015, the number of soldiers in the Polish armed forces has increased from 95,000 to around 164,000 as of February 2023.
Poland will, therefore now be the NATO member country spending proportionally the most on Defence, ahead of Greece (3.76% of GDP in 2022) and even the United States (3.47%). In contrast, France and Germany spent 1.9% and 1.3% of their GDP, respectively on Defence in 2021, while Russia spent 4.1% of its GDP on its armed forces.
Poland is also preparing to transfer an additional 60 upgraded tanks, 30 of which are PT-91 Twardy.
This was earlier announced by Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. pic.twitter.com/hAfZU1TCDW
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) January 28, 2023
Image: Wojsko Polskie
Author: Sébastien Meuwissen
Bez kategorii Politics
