Poland Urges NATO: Defense Spending to Hit 5% GDP by 2030

Poland's defense minister calls for NATO countries to expedite their defense spending target of 5% GDP by 2030, citing threats from Russia as a major driver. Poland, a key NATO member bordering Russia and Ukraine, is already planning to significantly increase its military investment ahead of schedule.

Poland is urging NATO countries to accelerate their defense spending commitments, calling for the 5% GDP target to be met by 2030, five years earlier than agreed, according to Poland’s defense minister.

As a key NATO member bordering both Russia and Ukraine, Poland has ramped up its military spending due to perceived threats from Moscow. Warsaw is already NATO's highest military spender relative to economic size and plans to dedicate 4.8% of GDP to defense by 2026.

Speaking at the Defence 24 Days conference in Warsaw, Polish defense minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz stressed the importance of economic and defense development, warning that waiting until 2035 for the 5% target could be too late. NATO had initially set the 2035 deadline during its June 2025 summit.