Poland and NATO Defence

By Jeff G. Gilmour, 10 February 2025

     As reported in a recent edition of "The Economist,” Poland's armed forces are now the third-biggest in NATO after the United States and Turkey, reaching over 200,000 troops.1 Their defence budget has tripled in real terms to about (US) $35 billion. As a percentage of GDP, the Polish Defence Minister stated the country expects to spend 4.1 percent on defence in 2024 and 4.7 percent this year.
        With Russia advancing on the battlefield and the US commitment to NATO uncertain, Poland is concerned with its security.  As a result, it is buying hundreds of new tanks, howitzers and multiple-launch rocket systems from South Korea. It has also placed (US)$60 billion worth of military equipment from the United States, including $10 billion for 96 Apache attack helicopters and $2.5 billion for the Integrated Battle Command System, a digital hub for the Patriot air-defence missiles.
       The Polish Defence Minister stated that “Poland intends to act as a bridge between the European Union and America. The strategy of the Polish army is to keep Russia as far away as possible.”

1- The Economist, “ Vigour on the Vistula,” January 25, 2025.

Image: Polish AHS Krab crews assigned to 4th Battery, 2nd Artillery Battalion, 5th Artillery Regiment, kick off the live-fire portion of Dynamic Front 23 in Oksbøl, Denmark, Mar. 26, 2023. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Kyle Larsen)