Polish lawmakers OK more defense spending with Russia in mind

WARSAW, Poland — Poland’s lawmakers have overwhelmingly approved an increase in defense spending to at least 2.1 percent of the country’s gross domestic product in 2020 and at least 2.5 percent of it in 2030, well above the level NATO requires.

Defence Minister Antoni Macierewicz on Friday called the increase a necessary response to “threats from the East” where Russia is “using force to pursue its political goals.”

Russia and Belarus are currently holding major war games near Poland’s border.

RELATED

Russia launches much-hyped Zapad exercises in Belarus

For the next week, all eyes will be cast just over NATO’s Eastern flank.

By Matthew Bodner

The bill still needs approval by the Senate and the president.

Poland is among only five NATO member countries that meet the alliance’s requirement of spending at least 2 percent of their GDP on defense. Warsaw sees the need to increase that amount as it modernizes its armed forces and raises the number of troops.

More In European Balance of Power

US Space Force moves to make its systems battle-ready by 2026

The service has set a goal to ensure that four high-priority, classified systems are fully integrated into its C2 architecture.

US Space Force sees surge in foreign military sales demand

Space Systems Command’s FMS division saw a 500% increase in requests between 2023 and 2024.

US needs more AI investment, not just guardrails, defense experts say

Defense and industry officials said the White House's AI policy memo should be accompanied by greater investment in enabling infrastructure.

Space Development Agency builds vendor pool for future demo missions

Through the effort, dubbed HALO, the agency will run rapid on-orbit demonstrations aimed at reducing risk for future operational missions.

Space Force orders more missile-tracking satellites from Millennium

Millennium will deliver six more spacecraft for the service's Missile Track Custody program as part of the $386 million deal.