Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed the Polish President Andrzej Duda to NATO Headquarters on Thursday (14 March 2024), two days after the 25th anniversary of Poland’s accession to NATO. The Secretary General praised Poland for its contributions to the Alliance and its strong support for Ukraine.

Mr Stoltenberg underlined that since joining NATO Poland has become “a key Ally and a security provider. You are building one of the biggest armies in NATO. You spend around 4 percent of GDP on defence, topping the NATO table,” the Secretary General said, “and you are adding major capabilities, including F-35s, HIMARS, and helicopters.”

The Secretary General and President Duda addressed Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the need to step up support. “Despite heavy Russian losses, Putin has not scaled back his war aims. The situation remains difficult. Ukraine is in dire need of ammunition,” Mr Stoltenberg said. He thanked Poland for being one of Ukraine’s strongest supporters and underlined that NATO’s latest polling across Allied countries found strong public support for continued aid to Ukraine.

In response to Russia’s war, NATO has increased its presence in the east of the Alliance, including in Poland, the Secretary General emphasised. “This month, more than 20,000 soldiers are participating in the Polish-led Dragon 24, part of exercise Steadfast Defender, our largest military exercise since the Cold War,” he said. “Poland makes the whole Alliance stronger and NATO makes all Allies safer.”

Poland joined on 12 March 1999 alongside Czechia and Hungary.