Poland urges EU to spend more on eastern defences ahead of Trump return

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Nato’s largest defence spender, Poland, has urged EU partners to contribute to increased defences along its borders with Russia and Belarus as a way to show Donald Trump they are committed to their own security.

Magdalena Sobkowiak-Czarnecka, the Polish junior minister in charge of preparing the country’s rotating EU presidency starting in January, told the Financial Times that the bloc should contribute to the so-called East Shield of strengthened border defences and air surveillance systems.

“I think that solidarity on the East Shield can help show Trump we understand what we need to do on defence, as the EU,” Sobkowiak-Czarnecka said.

“If Trump is saying that he will only work with the countries who are investing in defence, then Poland is fine since we already put 4 per cent of GDP on defence, but what about others? Financing of the East Shield would be a way to show there is joint commitment from the European countries.”

Announced in May, the East Shield consists of additional fortifications and air surveillance systems along Poland’s borders with Belarus and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. It is a key component of Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s pledge to stop Russian aggression, particularly the “hybrid war” launched by Moscow and Minsk, which has facilitated illegal migration into Poland from Belarus.

Warsaw has also accused the Kremlin of sponsoring arson attacks and other acts of sabotage in Poland and on US-bound planes.

Tusk’s government has earmarked 10bn zlotys (€2.3bn) for the East Shield, as part of its defence expenditure, which will rise to 4.7 per cent of Poland’s GDP in 2025, from 4.1 per cent this year. It is the highest level in Nato and double the military alliance’s target of 2 per cent of GDP, which some EU countries such as Italy and Spain are still missing.

“All our partners must understand [the East Shield] is not just about Poland but also about the borders of the EU,” Sobkowiak-Czarnecka said.

The Polish funding demand comes as Brussels is adjusting EU spending policies to allow tens of billions from the bloc’s budget to be potentially redirected to defence and security.

Poland will take over the EU’s rotating presidency from Hungary just weeks before Trump’s return to the White House. His upcoming second presidency has alarmed EU capitals after he vowed to impose more tariffs on the bloc and signalled he would end the war on Ukraine, raising the prospect of a deal that would favour Russia.

The Polish government is focused on strengthening EU security “in all its different dimensions,” from boosting the bloc’s military equipment manufacturing to fighting Russian-led disinformation and securing energy supplies, Sobkowiak-Czarnecka said.

“This Polish presidency has very good timing for us, because Poland will be leading the path in those difficult times as a specialist on Ukraine, and as we are one of the strongest allies in Europe of the US.”

Polish presidential elections are due to take place in May, with Tusk hoping that his party’s candidate will finally unblock his reform agenda which has been hobbled by Trump’s counterpart and ally Andrzej Duda.

“President Duda has been saying openly that President Trump is his very good friend,” Sobkowiak-Czarnecka said. “If President Duda can help and can be the first one to talk to Trump, that’s very good for all the citizens of Poland.”