Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Wednesday the central European country is set for next year's budget that would include record-high spending on defense.
Tusk presented the main points of the 2025 budget, which he described as "generous” and supporting further economic growth.
Tusk said some 186 billion zlotys ($48.5 billion) will be spent next year on increasing the defense of the nation, which borders war-torn Ukraine and where security concerns are high.
"It is a great effort but there is no turning back from it,” Tusk said at a news conference.
He said the amount was a significant increase from defense spending in 2024, which accounts for over 4% of Poland’s gross domestic product (GDP). Poland is a leader in NATO and the European Union in defense spending.
Deputy Defense Minister Stanislaw Wziatek told Polish media that spending on defense next year will reach 4.7% of GDP.
Poland, which supports Ukraine's struggle against Russia's invasion, is making large purchases of military equipment, including from the U.S. and South Korea.
Poland's economic growth is expected to be 3.9% next year.
