Poland’s Defence Expenditures in the NATO Financial Framework

Abstract

The objective of this article is to provide an analysis of Poland’s policy on defence expenditures in the context of the NATO financial framework. The publication reviews political, legal and financial aspects of Warsaw’s position in that regard since 2000, placing particular emphasis on the period after 2014, when the 2/20% rule was introduced into the Alliance’s system, according to which NATO Member States should pay annually at least 2% of their Gross Domestic Product on defence, including 20% on major equipment. Poland is among only eleven Allies which meet these requirements, having a well-established bipartisan approach to gradually increase domestic defence spending to at least 2.5% by 2030. That policy is not going to change even in the context of an economic recession due to the COVID-19 pandemic or any potential external changes in the security environment. Such an attitude should only serve to help maintain Poland’s position as one of the NATO beneficiaries, receiving not only security – as can be indicated through burden-sharing analysis - but also economic (military infrastructure projects through NATO Security Investment Programme) benefits.