![]() ![]() ![]() Last June, the United States announced that the permanent headquarters for V Corps would be established in Poland. forces stationed there, a presence enlarged further following Russia’s second invasion of Ukraine. In November 2020, the United States and Poland signed an enhanced defense cooperation agreement that increased the number of U.S. ![]() Washington for its part maintains a growing footprint in Poland with approximately 10,000 American servicemembers stationed there, REF some as part of NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group in Orzysz, Poland, near the Suwalki Gap, where the United States serves as the framework nation. In recent years, Poland has inked agreements to acquire U.S.-made systems including Patriot missile batteries, REF high-mobility artillery rocket systems, Javelin anti-tank missiles, M1A2 Abrams tanks, F-35 fighter jets, REF and MQ-9A Reaper drones (leased). Poland is at the forefront of bolstering NATO collective defense through this commitment to defense spending as well as through the acquisition of capabilities that add additional muscle to alliance deterrence. REF If that plan comes to fruition, Poland will spend more on defense (as a percentage of GDP) than anyone in the NATO alliance, including the United States. REF This will surely increase: At the end of January, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced his intentions to raise Polish defense spending to 4 percent of GDP this year. According to NATO, Poland will spend 2.42 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) on defense, as well as 20.4 percent of its defense budget on new equipment in 2023. This year, Poland is on track to attain both of NATO’s spending benchmarks. Poland’s clear-eyed assessment of the threat from Russia has led to a strong commitment to defense spending. A Leader in the Emerging European Security Landscape commitment to NATO, support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, and strengthened economic and political ties to Eastern Europe while also encouraging allies to better calibrate their policies with the scale of the mounting challenge from China. The Administration should embrace the emerging European security paradigm in which allies in Eastern Europe, most especially Poland, have taken the lead regarding aid for Ukraine and strengthening NATO deterrence. While in Poland, President Biden will meet with Polish leaders as well as members of the Bucharest Nine (Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia). The visit, just two days prior to the first anniversary of Russia’s second invasion of Ukraine, is an important opportunity. President Biden will travel to Poland February 20–22. ![]()
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