President of Poland Andrzej Duda: "The era of free-riding allies is over for good"

President Andrzej Duda took part in a briefing for the leadership of the Ministry of National Defense and the Polish Armed Forces, which was held at the Territorial Defense Forces Command.

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05 february 2025   |   17:58   |   Source: KPRP / Gazeta Morska   |   Prepared by: Kamil Kusier   |   Print

fot. Przemysław Keler / KPRP

According to the Chancellery of the President, during his opening speech, Andrzej Duda expressed gratitude to all Polish soldiers who safeguard security daily, both at home and abroad.

- I would like to express my gratitude for the service of all Polish soldiers—on missions, in military operations, on training grounds, in headquarters, and within international structures. In all these tasks, Polish soldiers have demonstrated their professionalism, dedication, and commitment, said President Andrzej Duda.

The president recalled that Polish troops are engaged in the "Safe Podlasie" operation, protecting the Polish border from illegal migration orchestrated by the Belarusian regime. He also mentioned their efforts in aiding the residents of southern Poland in dealing with the aftermath of last year's floods.

Duda highlighted that for nearly three years, the Russian aggressor has been waging a brutal, full-scale war against Ukraine, and the region is facing a "tangible and direct" threat. In this context, he acknowledged those who monitor Poland's airspace around the clock, ensuring swift responses to potential border violations.

- We are also observing the Baltic Sea with concern, as it is becoming a second front of potential confrontation for NATO, the president noted, explaining that "Polish soldiers, as part of 'Operation Bay,' are responsible for protecting critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea.

"Poland has become a key security player for all of Europe"

- Poland has secured a position as a key country for the security of not only NATO's eastern flank but—I do not hesitate to say—of all Europe. However, we must have no illusions about Moscow's intentions in the coming years, Duda emphasized.

The president stressed that despite the modernization of the Polish army and ongoing acquisitions, it is essential to continue strengthening security through strong alliances with partners. He pointed out that "the era of free-riding allies—especially in terms of security—is over for good." He also argued for increasing NATO member states' defense spending to 3% of GDP.

Following the closed session of the briefing, President Duda held a joint press conference with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, as well as Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces Wiesław Kukuła. He stated that the meeting provided an opportunity to summarize the past year and assess the current security situation, as well as to discuss future plans.

- We discussed the present situation. I expressed my gratitude for all the modernization processes that have been implemented in recent years. We also talked about ongoing and completed initiatives, Duda said, emphasizing the need to develop Poland's domestic defense industry.

The president noted that numerous military exercises involving state leadership and armed forces representatives have been conducted in recent years to test various systemic solutions. He added that the lessons learned would be used to introduce legislative changes.

Duda expressed satisfaction with the increasing defense budget. "I hope that this year's planned budget of 4.7% of our GDP allocated to defense will be effectively and efficiently implemented to enhance Poland's security and strengthen this system."

He also underscored the need for deeper transatlantic cooperation, expressing hope that "more American investments will be made here, on NATO's eastern flank."

During the briefing, Andrzej Duda was accompanied by the head of the Chancellery of the President, Małgorzata Paprocka, and the newly appointed head of the National Security Bureau, Dariusz Łukowski.

The full speech by President Andrzej Duda is available on the Chancellery of the President's website.

nato prezydent rp andrzej duda wojsko polskie morze bałtyckie

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