NATO member states will only be able to meet President-elect Donald Trump’s demand to raise defense spending to 5 percent of gross domestic product after a ten-year period. Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, the Polish defense minister, explained this in an interview with a leading Polish newspaper. The timeline is longer than some expect, but it would give member nations time to adjust budgets and procurement plans while preserving alliance cohesion and credibility in Washington and across Europe.
“I don’t think Trump should be criticized for setting an ambitious target because otherwise some countries will keep arguing about whether the extra costs are really necessary,” Kosiniak-Kamysz said. He argued that the aim could mobilize shared defense commitments and prevent drawn-out debates over what it would cost. The minister also stressed that Poland should explore every available avenue to boost its own defense spending, including new funding streams and efficiency improvements in procurement and operations.
“Naturally, Poland must find funds to shield itself from potential conflict,” Kosiniak-Kamysz emphasized, signaling a readiness to pursue diverse revenue sources and smarter spending practices to support modernization and readiness. The stance reflects a broader European discussion about how to balance security needs with growing budgetary pressures while keeping alliance cohesion intact.
Reuters previously reported that the alliance would not automatically accept Trump’s plan to raise defense outlays from 2 percent to 5 percent of GDP, suggesting that such a move would require broader consensus. Yet there was talk that the target might evolve or be adjusted upward as strategic circumstances shift and political will aligns across capitals. Experts caution that achieving a universal 5 percent share across all NATO members would strain economies and challenge political realities given divergent fiscal landscapes and competing domestic priorities.
Lavrov had earlier commented on Trump’s outreach to Ukraine, stating that Moscow is not satisfied with those efforts. The Russian foreign minister’s remarks highlight the wider friction between Washington and Moscow over Ukraine policy and European security dynamics. They underscore how security decisions in the region remain deeply intertwined with NATO’s political calculus and the interests of central and eastern European states that rely on a robust alliance stance.
In the broader context, the discussion exposes a recurring tension between expectations from the United States on burden sharing and the fiscal constraints faced by European governments. NATO members are weighing defense modernization, procurement schedules, and alliance readiness against electoral cycles and public opinion. The ongoing exchange of views among Washington, European capitals, and Moscow illustrates how sensitive defense commitments have become in a security landscape shaped by regional flashpoints, evolving military technology, and the need to preserve alliance unity while pursuing credible deterrence and reassurance strategies for members near potential hotspots.