President signs defence spending bill into law

“This increase in spending is an example for our allies and a response to Russia's actions,” the president said at a ceremony at the Belvedere Palace in Warsaw.

"This two percent is a huge effort for the Polish state and a huge effort for the government. I am fully aware that it always means difficult choices, but I want to convey my deep conviction that this trend is necessary due to the development of international events and it should be maintained," the president said shortly after signing amendments to the bill on reconstruction and technical modernisation and financing of the armed forces.

Komorowski expressed hope that his successor, Andrzej Duda, who assumes office on 5 August, will maintain the level of defense funding and even raise it if required to meet changes “on the east of the borders of NATO. It's easier to declare support, but much harder to execute,” Komorowski said.

The president added that linking defense spending to GDP will enable the financing of modernisation programmes, and the purchase of F-16 aircraft.

“A few years ago Western NATO countries said they would reduce military spending. Today the restoration of a level of two percent of GDP on defense is a victory for common sense, because this is the best – although not entirely adequate - response to increased spending on the armed forces of our eastern neighbour. It is worth remembering that Russia has also been increasing defense for almost the last ten years," Komorowski said.

About 80 percent of Russian society accept the need to increase military spending, the president said. "This should be a signal for all of us. Not in order to start a race, but to send signals that our response will not be helplessness and indifference."

The current figure for defence spending is 1.95 percent of GDP, with the 2014 defense budget at approx. PLN 32 billion (USD 8.5 billion). Defense Ministry estimates are that the change in legislation will add PLN approx. 1 billion a year to the figure.

The increases were announced in October by the then newly installed Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz.

Raising the share of defence expenditure is a fulfillment of obligations set out in last year's NATO summit in Newport, Wales. NATO declared then that countries that today spend under two percent on defence should reach two percent within the subsequent 10 years. (jh)

Source: PAP