Poland’s President Andrzej Duda has called for NATO member countries to increase defense spending to 3% of their GDP, stressing the importance of stronger defense budgets in light of rising global security threats. Duda made the remarks during a visit to NATO’s headquarters in Brussels on Thursday, where he met with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to discuss key defense and security issues ahead of the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague.
Duda highlighted Poland’s own commitment to defense, with the country increasing its defense spending to nearly 5% of its GDP in recent years. The proposal to raise defense spending within NATO will be discussed at the upcoming NATO summit, where leaders are expected to examine how the alliance can adapt to evolving security challenges, particularly in Europe and the broader international arena.
Along with defense spending, Duda and Rutte also addressed ongoing discussions regarding peacekeeping forces in Ukraine, noting the potential for a multilateral peacekeeping effort in the future. While Duda did not take a definitive position on sending Polish troops, he emphasized the importance of international cooperation for peace efforts.
The push for higher defense spending comes at a critical time, with NATO facing increased pressure to bolster its military readiness amid growing global tensions and ongoing conflicts.