25th Anniversary of Poland’s Accession to the North Atlantic Alliance

08.03.2024

„On March 12th, 1999, in the city of Independence in the United States of America Secretary of State Madeleine Albright has formally received the document ratifying our access to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. The time and place for this event are symbolic today, but back then it was an unequivocal and clear declaration, in which free and democratic Poland has definitively set out the vision of its security and set out the way in which it wishes to develop it further.

The decision to join NATO was one of the most important moments in modern Polish history – we have become a member of the largest and strongest defensive alliance in the history of the modern world – let us remember that this year we celebrate its 75th anniversary"

- said the deputy prime minister, minister of national defence Władysław Kosiniak –Kamysz

25 years ago, on March 12th 1999, we have opened a new chapter in the history of Polish security. The status of a member state in the North Atlantic Alliance remains one of the main pillars of Polish security policy, as well as that of Europe. Article 5 of the Washington Treaty is a guarantee of our safety and the foundation of the Alliance’s deterrence capability.

Poland not only benefits from common security, but also makes an important contribution to its strengthening. Entrusting Poland with the organisation of a meeting between NATO heads of state and government in 2016 was proof of our country’s position in the North Atlantic Alliance. The Summit which took place in Warsaw was an important event in the history of the Alliance, beginning a new chapter in the military adaptation of NATO to the changing security environment.

25 years of membership of Poland in NATO meant for the soldiers of the Polish Armed Forces a time of intense service, dynamic development and building a strong position in NATO.

From the moment of joining NATO, Poland has diligently been fulfilling all obligations that membership in the Alliance places on the participating states. Polish soldiers have taken and still take part in Alliance-led missions andoperations. Over the course of our 25 years of membership, 75 000 of our soldiers and civilian employees have served in them.

Poland is an important member of the Alliance not just because of its geopolitical position, but primarily because of its experience and potential. We are a leader among the North Atlantic Alliance states in terms of the defense expenditures made by our country. It is shown by the large percentage of our GDP assigned to defense - twice more than the 2% required by NATO, at the level of 4,2% GDP in 2024., which is a planned 158 bln PLN, over 50% of which we will devote to the modernization of the Armed Forces, which also places us in the leadining position in the Alliance.

Ever since Poland joined NATO, many military deployments of the Alliance or connected to it have been placed in our country; many investments were completed as part of the NATO Security Investment Programme (NSIP), the total value of which is 7,8 bln PLN.