Poland boosts NATO’s eastern defense with billions in US-backed arms
NATO military personnel (Illustrative photo: Getty Images)
The US has granted Poland a new $4 billion defense loan guarantee to purchase American weapons. The total amount of defense loans from Washington now exceeds $15 billion, as Warsaw prepares to spend 5% of its GDP on defense by 2026, according to Reuters.
The US officially approved the new $4 billion loan guarantee for Poland, aimed at helping the country modernize its armed forces.
Overall, American military funding to Poland has already surpassed $15 billion through several loans and guarantees over recent years.
This move is aimed at strengthening NATO’s eastern flank amid escalating security tensions in Europe. Poland, which already spends 4.7% of its GDP on defense in 2025, the highest rate in NATO, plans to raise this level to 5% of GDP by 2026.
Under the loan agreement, Poland expects to purchase advanced defense systems, including Patriot missile defense complexes, HIMARS artillery systems, Apache helicopters, and F-35 fighter jets - equipment whose acquisitions are already being heavily funded by US programs.
Poland is also negotiating the use of EU funds, including €6 billion from recovery funds allocated for defense purposes under the national recovery plan. This includes modernization of the defense industry, cybersecurity, and security infrastructure.
According to Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Błaszczak, the US loan guarantee is a new confirmation of the strategic partnership between Warsaw and Washington and a guarantee of regional security.
Poland continues to implement the East Shield program, a defense project for the eastern border worth over $2.5 billion, and is developing a nationwide reserve training system to create a security force of up to 500,000 personnel.
The new US loan is part of Poland’s long-term strategy to strengthen its defense capabilities in the face of Russian aggression.
On July 13, US President Donald Trump announced the transfer of Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine, funded by NATO allies. Initially, he said Kyiv would receive 17 systems, but later it became clear that the American president was referring to 17 launchers.
