On Friday, February 14th a meeting between the deputy prime minister – minister of national defence Władysław Kosiniak – Kamysz and US secretary of defence Pete Hegseth took place in Warsaw. Deputy minister Paweł Zalewski and chief of General Staff, gen. Wiesław Kukuła were also present in the meeting and the bilateral talks.

The visit of secretay Hegseth in Poland, one of his first foreign trips, underscores the strategic meaning of Polish – American relations.

- We had the opportunity for a one on one discussion, and then for talks between orur teams. The Polish – American alliance has never been as strong as it is now. We are determined to develop it even further every day. This is what we agreed on – joint investments, shared security guarantees and deepening our obligations.  (…) These values that we share need strength. That strength cannot exist without expenditures, without money that we need to spend on our security, without strengthening our capabilities, without investing in our Armed Forces, our alliance and our society. We know this well – this is something that we have in common. I am grateful for that

– deputy prime minister W. Kosiniak  – Kamysz said after the meeting.

The official part of secretary of defence’s visit began with a welcoming military ceremony in front of the Ministry of National Defence. Bilateral talks of delegations then took place, during which the defence ministers discussed developing military cooperation, focusing on joint projects and continuing deterrence actions on the eastern flank of NATO. It was stressed that Poland remains a key ally of the United States, and the bilateral and NATO cooperation is a model for others.

- We know that Poland can always be counted on and that you will always put actions behind your words. (…) Our bonds are unlike others. We have a shared warrior ethos. No truer friend, no tougher foe than the Polish soldier. We saw it in Iraq, we saw it in Afghanistan and it goes all the way back to World War II, when the Polish military stood alongside America (…) Sometimes when we look a tour friends at the table from different countries  we know that Poland can always be counted on and that your deeds match your words

– the US secretary of defence Pete Hegseth said.

Poland is one of the few NATO countries today that plan spending for defence, modernisation and transformation of the Armed Forces on the level approximating 5%, with 4,7% GDP at present. In the 2025 defence budget (including for raises of military pay) we have secured a record 124,3 bln PLN. Compared to 2024, it’s an increase of 6,2 bln PLN. Together with expenditures from the Armed Forces Support Fund in 2025 defence spending will reach 186,6 bln PLN, which means it will be higher than it was planned the previous year by 27,8 bln PLN.

- Poland is an example – the secretary said as much publicly in Brussels, indicating that Poland shows how to protect one’s own and allied security. All our actions – defending our borders, 5% of our GDP assigned for defence spending, modernisation and transformation of the Polish Armed Forces, purchasing the best equipment from our strategic partner in the field of defence, the United States – that is an absolute priority. All the Polish people unequivocally support this – the minister of national defence said after the bilateral talks.

The presence of American troops in Poland and purchasing modern American military equipment are the foundation of a strong partnership.

In 2024 we have signed a contract for the delivery of 96 AH-64E assault helicopters together with a logistics package, a contract for the delivery and integration of the IBCS system for the second phase of the WISŁA and NAREW programmes. In January 2025 we have signed a contract for the delivery of over 200 AGM-88G AARGM-ER (Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missiles – Extended Range) missiles. The assent given in April 2024 by the US government enables additional purchases in the future.

>>> GALLERY – The meeting of the minister of national defence with the US secretary of defence