During a recent speech in the city of Płock, the leader of the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party Jarosław Kaczyński made an important announcement. The former Prime Minister has announced that Poland will raise defence spending to the equivalent of 5% of the country’s GDP.
“We take security issues seriously […] We will [soon] devote 3% of GDP to defence, and over time that will be 5%” – Kaczyński explained.
Without any surprise, such a decision has been taken in the midst of the increasing threat represented by the aggressive policy of Russia in the region. The leader of the PiS underlined that the aim of such à move is to prevent Russia from attacking Poland.
“Our allies will help us, but only when we are able to defend ourselves […] We must be a cohesive, armed and brave nation” – he warned.
Under the Homeland Defence Act passed last winter, the government has already decided to double the size of its armed forces and increase defence spending from 2.2% currently to at least 3% next year.
Such reinforcement of the military would make Poland NATO’s third-biggest relative spender behind Greece (3.8%) and the United States (3.5%).
During his speech in Płock, Kaczyński emphasised that while “strong states strive for domination over weaker ones”, Poland must “maintain its sovereignty within the EU and ensure that it continues to catch up with the West economically.”
Image: Instagram (mon_gov_pl)
Author: Sébastien Meuwissen
