NATO raises defence spending – Hague Summit (25 June 2025)

The decision to increase defence spending across all NATO member states was made unanimously! The NATO Summit in The Hague, like the previous one in Warsaw in 2016, has a historical dimension – emphasised President of Poland Andrzej Duda, who represented Poland at the summit in The Hague.

“A strong North Atlantic Alliance means a strong and secure Poland today,” stated Andrzej Duda during a press conference.

He pointed out that for Poland and other countries on NATO’s eastern flank, there is no need to explain that “there is a real threat from Russian imperialism, which has returned.”

“Of course, we must strengthen our defence capabilities and be prepared, but probably, if Russia attacked us, it would be difficult for us to cope alone, even if we fully implement all our current plans regarding the modernisation of our army and reinforcement of our defence. However, within the North Atlantic Alliance, we are safe,” the President said.

NATO member states commit to investing 5% of GDP annually in basic defence needs and security-related expenditures by 2035.

“I am concluding my presidential mission and my last NATO summit with the sense of peace that a major change has occurred. I see it very clearly,” said Andrzej Duda, adding that there is no doubt anymore – everyone knows that 2% of GDP for defence is not enough. “Everyone knows that we need to spend more; everyone knows that to ensure security, we must indeed double our military effort. And that is happening,” he stressed.

He emphasised that he is handing over NATO matters to his successor, President-elect Karol Nawrocki, with confidence that things are on the right track to ensure our complete security.

“One part of this security is us – our potential, the Polish army, the armed forces – and the other is our presence in the North Atlantic Alliance and the guarantees the Alliance gives us,” he added.

The President was asked about the constitutional amendment he submitted to the Sejm, which sets Poland’s defence spending at 4% of GDP.

“At the end of my term, I considered this the last act of responsibility for Poland’s security that I could undertake: to propose that this change be firmly written into the constitution, ensuring that unless a political majority emerges that collectively decides this level of spending is no longer necessary, it will remain unchanged. And every government, regardless of its political affiliation, will be required to implement it because it will be a constitutional obligation,” Andrzej Duda explained.

Andrzej Duda also emphasised that every President of Poland must strengthen Polish–American ties.

“I fulfilled that for ten years. I proudly hear some experts say that today Polish–American relations are the best in our history, especially since 1989. That is a great compliment for me because I feel that over the years, I helped build those relations with successive U.S. leaders,” he said.

He added that he was pleased President Donald Trump welcomed Karol Nawrocki to the White House while he was still a presidential candidate. “This is a great sign for me,” he said.

“I believe we can soon expect a visit by the new Polish President to the White House and a visit by the U.S. President to Warsaw,” he announced.

Asked how NATO discusses Ukraine, the President responded: “Practically all leaders clearly stated that Ukraine needs support.”

“I made it very clear that Russia must not win this war and that the future of Ukraine – I firmly believe – lies within our transatlantic community. There were no objections to that. No one voiced any reservations. In general, support for Ukraine and declarations of continued assistance were widespread,” he emphasized.

When asked about Poland’s security in the context of the Zapad–2025 military exercises, he replied: “Our answer to the Zapad exercises is the organization of exercises in Poland at the same time, on NATO’s eastern flank.”

He said that he had spoken with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Władysław Kosiniak–Kamysz, who informed him that invitations had been sent to all NATO member states and that the interest was very high.

He added that the Americans will participate, as they are stationed in Poland, and “there is a high probability of extensive participation of allied forces.”

Andrzej Duda reminded us that after the previous Zapad military exercises, Russia invaded Ukraine.

“Today, we must clearly show our readiness, our strength, that we do not underestimate the threat, that we stand firm and are ready to defend our territory,” he emphasized.

And – in his assessment – “if the decision is made to move the exercises away from Poland’s borders, that is, from the borders of NATO and the EU, and if their scale is reduced, then that is very good – it will simply show that there are no aggressive intentions from the Russian or Belarusian side at this moment, and of course, we would welcome that.”

Earlier, before the North Atlantic Council meeting, Andrzej Duda reminded that he was the first leader to raise the issue of increased defence spending during his meeting with President Biden at the White House.

“I said that due to the threat of Russian aggression, because of Russia’s imperial policy, we must spend on defence as much as NATO countries did during the Cold War. Then, in April 2024, I spoke in New York at Trump Tower with Donald Trump, who was a presidential candidate at the time. I repeated to him that we must increase defence spending. This March, I sent a letter to Mark Rutte stating that this must be a topic for the summit. Today, you can see the discussion happening,” he said.

The President emphasised that the fundamental principle of NATO is unity. “It is essential for making decisions. If we decide on 5% of GDP, then there is no debate about who spends or doesn’t spend. Everyone is obliged to spend. Article 5 is clear and means collective defence,” he added.

Asked whether Russia might want to attack another country, the President said he believes that “Russia is exhausted after three years of war in Ukraine.”

“I don’t think they want to attack another country right now. But in the future, that risk exists. That’s why we must prepare for it and increase defence spending. It is necessary,” he said.

During the conversation with journalists, Andrzej Duda also emphasised: “Another important issue for us in Poland is the extension of NATO fuel pipelines, which currently end in Western Europe, to the eastern flank of NATO – because this is crucial to ensure defence.”

At the press conference, the President was also asked whether he had spoken with Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski about his plan to recall some ambassadors.

“Yes, we spoke at length today. I hope we will reach an agreement on this matter,” he replied.

“I explained certain issues to the Minister and clarified them. Perhaps there were some misunderstandings, even elements of disinformation, but I believe our direct conversation clarified a lot, and I hope the matter will be resolved positively,” he added.

He noted that he was somewhat concerned about the situation.

“We had already reached a compromise some time ago, and I have been signing ambassadorial nominations – I’ve signed many recently, and we are processing more. This situation was completely unexpected and, frankly, strange. But I think we’ve clarified everything today,” he said.