Polish-American strategic partnership key to regional security. Will defense spending increase?

On February 14, 2025, in Warsaw, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz met with U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. The visit, one of the first in Hegseth’s international tour, underscores the strong ties between the two nations.

14 february 2025   |   20:55   |   Source: Gazeta Morska   |   Prepared by: Kamil Kusier   |   Print

fot. st. kpr. Wojciech Król / MON

Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz emphasized the significance of this meeting.

- This is an expression of our partnership, our shared friendship, and our joint security strategy—for the United States, for Poland, for Europe, and for the entire world. It is our great responsibility, said the Minister of National Defense.

The meeting, attended by Deputy Minister Paweł Zalewski and Chief of the General Staff Gen. Wiesław Kukuła, focused on military cooperation and continued deterrence efforts on NATO's eastern flank.

- The Polish-American alliance has never been stronger. We are determined to strengthen it even further every day, said Kosiniak-Kamysz, who has faced criticism for delays in the procurement of 486 HIMARS systems worth nearly 40 billion PLN for the Polish Armed Forces.

Secretary Pete Hegseth: "Poland always fulfills its commitments"

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth praised Poland’s commitment to security.

- We know we can always count on Poland, and that you will always put words into action. (...) We share a very similar warrior ethos. There is no truer friend and no tougher opponent than a Polish soldier, said the U.S. Secretary of Defense.

Will defense spending increase? "There is no strength without investment"

Poland continues to increase its defense spending, reaching 4.7% of GDP in 2025. As Kosiniak-Kamysz stated.

- There is no strength without investment, without funds allocated to our security, without enhancing our capabilities, without investing in our army, our alliance, and our society.

During the meeting, officials highlighted that modernizing the Polish military and purchasing American equipment are crucial to strengthening national defense.

- Poland sets an example. The Secretary publicly acknowledged this in Brussels, emphasizing that Poland demonstrates how to take care of both national and allied security, Kosiniak-Kamysz noted.

In 2024, Poland signed contracts for 96 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters, the IBCS system for the second phase of the WISŁA program, the NAREW program, and over 200 AGM-88G AARGM-ER missiles.

- All the actions we are taking—border protection, 5% of GDP for defense, modernization and transformation of the Polish army, procurement of the best equipment from our strategic defense partner, the United States—are an absolute priority, the Minister of National Defense emphasized.

Polish-American military cooperation, initiated and developed in recent years, serves as a cornerstone of European security and a model for building strategic relationships.

We are on Google News! Join us and follow Gazeta Morska. Get daily updates straight from the sea. Follow us at gazetamorska.pl!

gallery

comments

Add the first comment