Polish-American Alliance is the foundation of our security
Poland - Ministry of National Defence
27.05.2025
Our relations, our investments, common defence, common values - those are the foundations of our security. For a safe Poland there is no alternative other than a Polish-American alliance and a strong Poland within Europe. These two things complement each other, and Poland is a trans-atlantic vehicle. This idea that we have presented a few months ago, when president Trump assumed his office - that Poland is a trans-atlantic vehicle - is bearing fruit. We support all actions leading to increasing defence spending and Poland is a model ally, as defence secretary Hegseth has said - it's a country that spends almost 5% of its GDP on defence, invests in the most modern technologies and is always ready to lend aid - said the deputy prime minister W. Kosiniak - Kamysz during his visit in the USA.
On Tuesday, 27 May, during a visit in the United States, deputy prime minister - minister of national defence W. Kosiniak - Kamysz met with the US secretary of defence Pete Hegseth. Ministry of National Defence's secretary of state Paweł Zalewski was also part of the delegation.
- We are here with minister Paweł Zalewski. We are coming straight from the meeting with secretary of defence Pete Hegseth and his team - because it's not just him, but also his two deputies, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the most important American commanders. A visit on that level is rarely seen in the history of relations with our other partners. (...) We have once again heard gratitude for Polish soldiers. I would like to say that here, in Washington, to all Polish soldiers, who together with our American brothers, with American soldiers, defend our independence, our sovereignty, our values, our position in the Western world. I would like to relay the warmest wishes and enormous respect from the United States' secretary of defence. He values all that the Polish soldiers are doing for the Polish-American alliance and partnership
- said the minister of national defence.
Poland is one of the few NATO countries that are already planning their spending for defence, modernisation and transformation of the Armed Forces on the level close to 5%, that is 4.7% of GDP today. We have secured 124,3 bln PLN in the 2025 defence budget (including wage increases for professional soldiers). This is an increase of 6,2 bln PLN compared to 2024. Together with spending coming from the Armed Forces Support Fund in 2025 our defence spending will reach 186,6 bln PLN, which means they will be 27,8 bln PLN higher than planned in the previous year.
- Creating Polish-American joint venture entities that will be able to invest in Poland and Ukraine, produce the best equipment in Poland, was one of the most important points of our discussion. There is great openness and great favour towards this project - a green light for Polish-American joint venture project, defence companies investing in dual use technologies. Poland reaches a higher level of Polish-American relations. This is mine and the secretary of defence's common goal - so that not just purchases, but shared production will be a synonym of our friendship. This is happening - there are concrete effects of this
- noted the deputy prime minister.
- We are receiving good news from Brussels as well today. I have let Pete Hegseth know that as we are talking, the European Union is adopting new regulations for defence spending. It will invest in security. The SAFE package - 150 bln euros, 800 bln euros at the end of the road. On Polish terms, because the Polish presidency negotiated conditions favourable to Poland, but also our allies in the United States, where 65% of the equipment has to come from Europe, but 35% can come from our allies. If investments in Poland materialize, the Polish-American potential will increase even further. We are interested in using these European funds well, towards developing the arms industry in cooperation with the United States. This is a concrete piece of news: the Polish Apache helicopters will fly in on 15 June. This is very good news. A year ago, before the Polish Armed Forces Day, I have signed a contract for 96 Apache helicopters, worth around 10 bln dollars. In the beginning of this year - another contract, connected with leasing, so that we can use this equipment as quickly as possible, so the Polish pilots can familiarize themselves with it and utilize it. Eight Apaches will fly to Poland on 16 June. We are adopting them into our Armed Forces. This is a great event. Modernisation and transformation of the Polish Armed Forces are really accelerating. F-35s already serve in the Air Force - for now here in the United States, where our pilots are training. The first of them have already completed their training, and now - it is time for the Apaches. This is all connected: Abrams tanks, F-35s, Apaches, and a swarm of drones that will protect them and fly in front of them. This is the philosophy that we strongly believe in, in the Polish-American relations
- said the minister of national defence after the meeting with the US secretary of defence.
- Another topic were the infrastructure investments in Poland. We plan to spend 250 million dollars annually for shared infrastructure investments by 2035. Most recently we have unveiled such a base in Drawsko. Poland spends 15 thousand dollars annually per American soldier. This is a beautiful contribution to our shared defence, and a way for us to stand out among other European countries. 128 contracts worth over 60 billion dollars - this is another guarantee of Polish security. I would like to thank the entire team - especially minister Zalewski, our ambassador to the US, our military attaché in Washington - for organizing this meeting perfectly. This shows the strength of Poland
- added the deputy prime minister.
During his visit in the United States the deputy prime minister had also met with a Polish veteran of the battle of Monte Cassino, Col. Romuald Lipiński, whom he'd decorated with a Gold Medal of Merit for National Defence. As the deputy prime minister said:
- A hero of our freedom, a soldier of Monte Cassino. (...) in the name of Poland, of all Polish citizens, I thank you for the freedom that we enjoy thanks to you, for the country that is the most beautiful place to live, for our beloved Fatherland. You are a representative of the generation that gave us all free Poland
- he added.
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