During the Cold War, the United States relied on key European allies to support NATO, with West Germany, Britain, Italy, and Spain playing important roles. However, since the end of the Cold War, the strategic importance of countries like Poland has increased, particularly given Russia’s aggression towards Ukraine and hostility towards the West. Poland has emerged as a critical defensive partner for NATO in the east, with a large military and strong commitment to helping Ukraine. Warsaw regularly spends at least two percent of its GDP on defense and has plans to increase its military to 300,000 troops by 2035. Additionally, Poland is investing heavily in new arms, both from the US and from South Korea. However, concerns remain about whether Poland can afford its ambitious defense plans and its often contentious relationship with the EU.
Poland is NATO’s new defensive stronghold.
