Poland in NATO

The ministers discussed the current security situation in Europe. They also debated options for increasing defence spending and military production. Secretary General Mark Rutte outlined priorities for the NATO summit in The Hague: The Alliance should be even stronger, with a fairer distribution of responsibilities, and it should also develop its collective defence capabilities faster. Minister Sikorski called for further strengthening of NATO's defence posture and continued support for Ukraine.

During the NATO-Ukraine Council meeting, NATO and Ukrainian ministers discussed the current situation on the frontline and Kyiv's needs to ensure effective defence against the Russian aggressor. The Allies reaffirmed their support for fighting Ukraine and the need to maintain close relations between NATO and Kyiv.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas briefed the ministers on recent European Commission initiatives to support EU member states in developing defence capabilities. Minister Sikorski recalled that raising the level of Europe's security and increase in defence expenditures are the priorities of the ongoing Polish presidency of the Council of the European Union.

During the meeting with representatives of Australia, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand, the Allies appreciated the partners' support for Ukraine, and discussed the implications of the actions of Russia and its associates for global security.

On the sidelines of the meeting, Minister Radosław Sikorski held bilateral consultations with his Dutch counterpart. The topics of the meeting included preparations for the NATO summit in The Hague and the current security situation in Europe.

During the press conference, the head of Polish diplomacy stressed that the United States' commitments to its Allies have not altered. He also presented calculations showing a significant increase in European defence spending in recent years.

 

Photo credit: Konrad Laskowski, MFA