The number one country that does the most for NATO right now

One of the main criticisms of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is that the United States bears a disproportionate share of the burden. To address the imbalance, an agreement was reached at a 2014 summit in Wales. NATO members have pledged to spend at least 2% of their GDP on defence. When the agreement was concluded, only three countries were at the required level of spending. Today, 23 NATO members meet these criteria.

The United States is still the largest total spender and has the largest military. However, as a percentage of GDP, the United States is now third in defense spending in NATO. Estonia spends a slightly higher proportion of its GDP on defense (3.43% versus 3.38%), but there is clear light between second place and first place. Poland spends far more of its GDP on defense than any other NATO member, at 4.12%. It is the fastest growing military in NATO and will only strengthen if its defense reforms materialize. This article will look at how Poland has become the most committed member of the alliance since joining it 25 years ago.

Why this matters

Poland’s enormous military strength stems from escalating tensions in Eastern Europe. As the war in Ukraine continues, Poland is trying to become a regional power to guarantee its security. With memories of the turmoil of the 20th century still fresh, Poland’s military ambitions will go a long way in shaping the geopolitical picture in Eastern Europe.

The historical context

Poland struggled to gain and maintain its independence throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. After the First World WarPoland regained statehood for the first time in over a century. However, this independence would be short-lived. The Second Polish Republic fell after 20 years in 1939. Caught in a hopeless position between two hostile powers, Warsaw was overwhelmed in the first weeks of World War II.

After decades under communist rule, Poland broke away from the Soviet Union in 1989 with the establishment of the Third Polish Republic. As Poland turned toward democracy and the West, it began to explore joining NATO. At the time, Poland was still an active member of the The Warsaw Pactthe equivalent of the eastern bloc with NATO. The pact dissolved in July 1991, and the USSR collapsed a few months later.

Poland joined Partnership for Peace program in 1994 as it aimed for full NATO membership. President Bill Clinton expressed support for NATO expansion during a visit to Warsaw July 1994. The US House of Representatives passed NATO Enlargement Facilitation Act in 1996 to support Central and Eastern European states wishing to join NATO.

Poland and NATO

Poland joined NATO along with Hungary and the Czech Republic in 1999 as part of the first NATO post-Cold War expansion. Enlargement greatly increased NATO’s presence in Central and Eastern Europe. Poland’s strategic position is an asset for NATO as it provides a key forward deployment position. Poland borders the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, Russia’s only European ally, Belarus, and Ukraine. A missile defense base at Redzikowo in northern Poland, near the coast, is now operational. In addition, the United States has around 10,000 soldiers deployed in Poland. The US Army V Corps The forward headquarters is in Poznan.

Poland is gaining increased security, prestige and access to state-of-the-art weapons and hardware as it modernizes its armed forces. Warsaw is currently moving away from its old Soviet-era arsenal to a modern, well-equipped and large army. For some NATO members, joining the alliance was a controversial decision, but that is not the case in Poland. About 70% of the Polish public has a positive view of NATO and its role in Poland’s security. Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak spoke on the 25th anniversary of Poland’s accession to NATO and the 75th anniversary of the Alliance:

The decision to join NATO was one of the most important moments in modern Polish history – we became a member of the largest and most powerful defensive alliance in the history of the modern world – let’s remember that this year we celebrate the 75th anniversary.

Ukraine

Poland’s strategic value to NATO was underlined when the war in Ukraine broke out in 2022, as the two nations share a 300-mile border. Warsaw moved quickly and decisively to send aid to its neighbor. Poland sent more than 300 tanks to Ukraine in the first months of the war. Many were older T-72 models that were more familiar to the Ukrainian armed forces than modern armor. Poland also sent infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) and a handful of older fighter jets. The tools may not have been cutting edge, but they were sorely needed and helped stop the Russian invasion. In addition, Poland received a little under a million Ukrainian refugees.

Unfortunately, a dispute grain exports worsened relations between Warsaw and Kiev and led to the cessation of military aid. Those frozen relations later thawed and the two countries agreed on a security agreement in July 2024. Other nations have struggled to fulfill their promises to Ukraine, but all the aid allocated to Poland to Ukraine has arrived.

Military consolidation of Poland

Poland’s military has doubled in size over the past decade. In 2014, the army had just under 100,000 personnel, today Poland’s armed forces number 216,000. This means that Poland now has the third largest army in NATObehind only the United States and Turkey, and Warsaw does not plan to stop there. In March 2022, Poland passed the Homeland Security Act to increase military recruitment and spending. According to the provisions of the act, Poland will increase its armed forces to 300,000 personnel (250,000 regulars plus 50,000 reservists). Poland will eventually increase its defense spending to 5% of GDP. The aim is to strengthen Poland’s defensive and deterrence capabilities.

While Poland is trying to become, in the words of the former Minister of Defense, Mariusz Blaszczak, “the most powerful land force in Europe”, spends huge sums on the purchase of new equipment. Poland signed an agreement with the United States for 32 F-35 Lightning II aircraft, worth 4.6 billion dollars in January 2020. Two takeover bids followed 350 M1 Abrams tanks from the United States to replace older tanks donated to Ukraine.

Poland’s other important defense partner is South Korea, which has become a major arms producer on the global stage. From 2018-2022, South Korean arms exports increased by 74%. Poland and South Korea have agreed on the framework for 1000 K2 Black Panther tanks in 2022. the first 180 will be purchased directly from Seoul, the remaining 820 will be produced domestically in Poland under license. Poland currently has the fourth largest tank army in NATO, it will rise to at least third by the end of the decade.

In addition, Poland is strengthening its anti-aircraft defenses, rocket launchers and self-propelled artillery. Poland has agreed to buy 48 Patriot system launchers from the United States in August 2024 which will be done locally. South Korea also sells Poland hundreds of K9 Thunder howitzers and Chunmoo multiple rocket launchers.

Conclusion

Outgoing Secretary General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg described the 2% spending target as a level rather than a ceiling, and Poland certainly took that message to heart. Warsaw’s increase in military spending is motivated by a combination of historical experience, geographic position and a real commitment to NATO. Poland experienced a loss of state several times in its history. Russia’s renewed aggression against its neighbors is a threat Poland takes more seriously than most.

The war in Ukraine is taking place in Poland’s backyard, and with a Russian exclave and a de facto Russian satellite on its border, Poland is proactive about security, as are Poland’s Baltic neighbors. While NATO still has internal issues among members to work on, the alliance has made huge strides in meeting its defense spending targets. The United States is still NATO’s top heavyweight, but Poland is now arguably the pound-for-pound champion in the alliance.

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