The political chess behind Poland’s military spending
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Poland, one of the largest countries on the EU’s eastern flank, has sharply ramped up its military spending since 2022, with defense expenses reaching 4.5% of GDP in 2025 — among the highest in the European Union. Investment in the military is also exceptionally popular: 67% of
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The political chess behind Poland’s military spending by Karol Luczka March 27, 2026 9:16 PM 6 min read President Karol Nawrocki speaks during a press conference following a parliamentary session in Warsaw, Poland, on Feb. 26, 2026. (Wojtek Radwanski / AFP / Getty Images) Europe Prefer on Google by Karol Luczka Poland, one of the largest countries on the EU’s eastern flank, has sharply ramped up its military spending since 2022, with defense expenses reaching 4.5% of GDP in 2025 — among the highest in the European Union. Investment in the military is also exceptionally popular: 67% of Poles support further increases in defense budgets, according to recent local polls. Yet despite this strong backing, a political clash has put the funding strategy in the spotlight. President Karol Nawrocki recently vetoed a government-backed bill to accept an EU loan for national defense, sparking a heated debate between the right-wing opposition and the liberal government. While the tone of the debate points to deep divisions between the two camps, Polish analysts who spoke to the Kyiv Independent suggest political infighting will go hand-in-hand with an increase in military spending — a policy that both camps ultimately support. European SAFE initiative Approved in May 2025, the Security Action for Europe initiative was designed as an instrument for the European Commission to provide loans to member states for defense spending. Instead of borrowing on their own, EU countries can submit national defense projects to the EC, which will provide the necessary funding. For most member states, this makes defense spending cheaper, as the EC enjoys a flawless credit rating, thereby lowering interest rates. With a total budget of 150 billion euros ($173 billion), SAFE would be a significant investment for European defense,with all funds expected to be spent between 2026 and 2030. Poland — which submitted projects worth approximately 44 billion euros ($50 billion) — would have been by far the...
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