March 12, 2024 (EIRNS)—President Biden hosted both Polish President Andrzej Duda and Prime Minister Donald Tusk at the White House today, for the 25th anniversary of Poland’s accession to NATO. Duda brought with him a proposal, explained in a Washington Post op-ed on March 11, that NATO members increase their defense spending to 3% of GDP. “Russia’s aggression against Ukraine clearly demonstrated that the United States is and should remain the security leader,” he said. “But other allies must take more responsibility for the security of the alliance as a whole.” Biden replied by promising that American support for Poland is ironclad, reported Reuters. “We must act before it literally is too late because, as Poland remembers, Russia won’t stop at Ukraine. Putin will keep going, putting Europe and the United States and the entire free world at risk, in my view,” said Biden.
Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk said ahead of the meeting that he would raise with Biden the need for NATO to strengthen its capabilities on its Eastern flank to deter Russia. “NATO must accept that if not today, then tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, operational capabilities on NATO’s Eastern flank must be greater,” Tusk told Polish private broadcaster TVN24, reported Reuters. “A strong, equipped Poland, supported by allies, is not only a matter of our security, but the security of the entire West,” he added.
