Poland and Hungary are at the Forefront in NATO Regarding Defence Spendings

The president of Hungary arrived in Poland within the framework of a working visit on the occasion of the Polish-Hungarian Friendship Day (23 March).

Tamás Sulyok recalled that the Polish-Hungarian friendship is more than a thousand years old and is deeply rooted in Hungarian society. He added that we, East-Central Europeans share a common fate and tasks, that is what binds the two nations since Saint Kinga.

We talk about two nations that value and appreciate freedom – pointed out Tamás Sulyok adding that the Polish and the Hungarians have always known that they have to fight for freedom and history always proved that the two countries can be free, equal and fast-developing states and nations of Europe only if they join forces and cooperate.

Tamás Sulyok said that the two countries also have several common interests in foreign policy. Hungary is proud that its defence spendings have reached two percent of its GDP, and armed forces development is important for both Hungary and Poland.

“I can say that Poland and Hungary are at the same level, Hungary has long been spending more than two percent, and now three percent of its GDP on this” – said Polish President Andrzej Duda. He also added that Poland spends more than four percent of its GDP on defence.

“It can be said that in this regard, we are at the forefront in fulfilling NATO requirements” – he said. Related to this, he repeated his former suggestion that defence spendings in NATO should again be raised to three percent of GDP – which was also necessary during the Cold War – due to the changing situation of global and European security, in particular the war in Ukraine.

Hungary will hold the rotating presidency of the European Union in the second half of the year and will hand it over to Poland in the first half of 2025. Therefore, this and the priorities of the two presidencies were also discussed by the heads of state, such as EU enlargement, including the integration of the Western Balkan countries, as well as Ukraine and Moldova. He also added that Poland is definitely for the “open doors policy” when it comes to the EU and NATO.

As for the cooperation in the United Nations, the two presidents discussed the issues of the war in the Gaza Strip, its effect on the European security situation and the risk of another “great migration crisis” – said Duda. In this context, he assured Tamás Sulyok that the Polish Border Guard would help Hungary protects its border if needed.

Andrzej Duda gave thanks to Tamás Sulyok for visiting Poland on his first tour abroad as a head of state.