Celebrating NATO’s 75th Anniversary
President Andrzej Duda and First Lady Agata Kornhauser-Duda joined the festivities on the first day of the NATO summit, honoring the 75th anniversary of the North Atlantic Treaty. President Duda highlighted the importance of Poland’s 25-year NATO membership, particularly in the current global landscape.
During an interview with FOX News, President Duda emphasized the crucial need for NATO to maintain a consistent policy and readiness, especially given the conflicts near Poland’s borders. He called for increased defense spending and strengthening NATO’s eastern flank, suggesting allies surpass the 2% GDP defense budget target to bolster security, reminiscent of Cold War strategies.
President Duda outlined plans to enhance regional defense strategies, extend strategic pipelines to Eastern Europe, and upgrade NATO storage facilities in Poland. He also stressed the strategic imperative of integrating Ukraine into NATO, highlighting the importance of air defense systems.
Symbolic Washington Summit
The Washington summit, commemorating NATO’s 75th anniversary, will feature President Duda in high-level discussions, including the North Atlantic Council and talks with Indo-Pacific partners. The summit coincides with the inauguration of the NATO-Ukraine Training and Education Center in Bydgoszcz.