Donald Trump has criticized NATO allies, including Poland, claiming the United States invests enormous sums without receiving any benefits. In a social media post, the US president described the differences in defense spending as „ridiculous” ahead of next week’s summit in Ankara.
Trump’s latest outburst on Truth Social reignited tensions within the alliance. – The United States spends more money on NATO than any other country to protect them, and gets no benefits from it – wrote Donald Trump. He listed Poland as one of the nations where the US purportedly overinvests, citing Poland’s contribution of $44.3 billion compared to the US’s $999 billion. – Others, including Germany, pay much less. Ridiculous! – he added.
The statement came just days before the NATO summit in Ankara and after Polish presidential aide Marcin Przydacz met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss a permanent US troop presence in Poland. – It is absolutely a green light from the White House, also from Marco Rubio’s mouth came a declaration – said Marcin Przydacz. Rubio reportedly referred to Poland as a „model ally” that allocates an appropriate share of GDP to defense.
Trump’s blunt message on NATO burden-sharing
The US president has long complained about the uneven distribution of defense spending within the alliance. By singling out Poland, he appears to reject the argument that Warsaw is a reliable partner. Poland currently spends more than 4% of its GDP on defense, one of the highest ratios in NATO. Yet Trump’s figures focus on absolute dollar amounts, ignoring the relative economic size of each country.
Critics argue that Trump’s approach risks undermining solidarity just before a major summit. The Ankara meeting is expected to address new defense plans and support for Ukraine. Polish officials have emphasized that the planned permanent US bases are a strategic asset for both nations.
Poland’s response and the path to permanent US presence
In Warsaw, President Karol Nawrocki and Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz held a preparatory meeting for the summit. – We informed the president about the state of work on the bases. In this matter we have a unified stance. They are also important for the Americans, because the Americans have an interest in being here, due to their serious interests in our country – said Deputy Defense Minister Paweł Zalewski.
Despite Trump’s harsh rhetoric, the Polish government remains confident about the bilateral relationship. The announcement of a „green light” from the White House for permanent US deployments suggests that operational talks are advancing regardless of political noise. For Poland, security guarantees against potential threats from Russia remain the top priority, and Washington’s continued military engagement is seen as essential.
Źródło: polsatnews.pl, Fot. Polsat News
