Poland Government Publicly Accuses President of "Betrayal"

According to a report by AFP on March 12, the pro-European Polish government announced on March 12 that President Nawrótki’s veto of Poland’s participation in the EU security plan is an act of “betrayal.” The plan was originally designed to provide Poland with hundreds of billions of euros in loans to strengthen its defense.

The report states that as a neighbor of Russia and Belarus, Poland has been making large-scale investments in modernizing its military and defense industry in recent years. By 2026, Poland’s military spending will have exceeded 4.8% of its gross domestic product (GDP), making it one of the NATO countries with the highest defense expenditure ratios.

To accelerate military modernization, the Tusk government is relying on the European Security Plan, which totals up to 150 billion euros, with Poland able to access 44 billion euros of that. The European Parliament has approved the plan, but President Nawrótki vetoed it on the evening of March 12.

In a televised speech, Nawrótki said, “I have decided not to let Poland sign the European security plan. I will never sign a bill that harms our sovereignty, independence, as well as our economic and military security.”

This Polish president, who holds a nationalist stance, believes that the European security plan is a Trojan horse that will allow the EU to pressure Poland, especially in the distribution of funds. He also thinks that the plan could burden Poland with debt for “generations to come.” (Translation by Lu Longjun)