NATO Chief Rutte Hails Poland’s Frontline Role During Visit to Bemowo Piskie

Overview

• Mark Rutte met President Karol Nawrocki and Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz before visiting the Bemowo Piskie training area to thank troops from the United States, United Kingdom, Romania, Croatia, and Poland serving with NATO’s Forward Land Forces.
• He cited Poland’s more than €4 billion in military aid to Ukraine, including $100 million via the PURL mechanism, as well as Poland’s role hosting a logistics hub and the NATO‑Ukraine JATEC in Bydgoszcz.
• Rutte praised Poland’s plan to expand its armed forces to 300,000 personnel by 2035 and its defense spending above 4.5% of GDP, with further increases set for 2026.
• Reaffirming allied resolve, he said NATO remains united and ready to deter aggression and continue vital support to Ukraine, noting the Eastern Sentry activity launched in September to counter repeated airspace incursions on the eastern flank.
• Poland’s defense chief outlined recent procurement moves, including selecting Swedish submarines and boosting counter‑drone capabilities, along with priorities to expand dual‑use infrastructure such as rail, roads, and pipelines across the region.