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NATO’s secretary general, Mark Rutte, has reiterated on a visit to Warsaw that the alliance would defend Poland “with full force” if Russia attacked it. He said he wanted to “be very clear to Vladimir Putin” that “our reaction will be devastating”.
His remarks come after Donald Trump’s recently raised doubts over the United States’ commitment to the collective defence of NATO allies that is supposed to be guaranteed under article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty
Following a meeting with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Rutte also hailed Poland for “leading by example” on defence spending and praised its plans to bolster NATO’s eastern borders with Belarus and Russia.
Jeden za wszystkich, wszyscy za jednego! Sekretarz Generalny NATO potwierdził pełne gwarancje bezpieczeństwa dla Polski, poparł Tarczę Wschód i wspólne patrolowanie Bałtyku oraz wskazał Rosję jako główne zagrożenie dla całego Paktu. Bezpieczna Polska najwyższym priorytetem.
— Donald Tusk (@donaldtusk) March 26, 2025
“In an increasingly dangerous world, boosting defence spending is essential,” said Rutte, speaking alongside Tusk. “Let’s not forget that Russia remains the most significant and dire threat to our alliance.”
“Poland’s investment in defence is an example to all allies: not only do you top the NATO charts, you plan to spend even more,” he added. Poland is this year spending the equivalent 4.7% of GDP on defence, by far the highest relative level among all NATO members.
“You are strengthening NATO’s eastern flank,” continued Rutte. “And let me be absolutely clear: when it comes to the defence of Poland and the general defence of NATO territory, if anyone were to miscalculate and think they can get away with an attack on Poland or any other ally, they will be met with the full force of this fierce alliance.”
“Our reaction will be devastating,” said the secretary general. “This has to be very clear to Vladimir Putin and anyone else who wants to attack us.”
Earlier this month, Trump suggested that the United States under his leadership would not come to the defence of NATO allies who are not paying enough for their own defence, despite all members of the alliance being committed to mutual defence.
“If they don’t pay, I’m not going to defend them,” he told reporters in the Oval Office. “It’s common sense, right.”
NATO members are meant to spend the equivalent of at least 2% of GDP on defence. But last year, eight countries – Croatia, Portugal, Italy, Canada, Belgium, Luxembourg, Slovenia and Spain – did not reach that level.
Earlier this year, Trump even suggested that the minimum level of spending should be increased to 5% of GDP. This month, Poland’s president, Andrzej Duda, a Trump ally, submitted a formal request to NATO for the figure to be raised to 3%.
Speaking today alongside Rutte, Tusk claimed that “representatives of the United States have repeatedly emphasised that they will always be ready to defend Poland and other countries of the alliance in the event of a threat”.
However, he also admitted that US-led efforts to negotiate a peace between Ukraine and Russia, which have so far left Europe sidelined, mean that “NATO, like Poland, must be prepared for scenarios that are not entirely of our own making”.
Meanwhile, Rutte said that NATO welcomes Poland’s ongoing plans to strengthen its borders with Belarus and Russia – a project known as “East Shield” – and to enhance military training. Earlier this month, Tusk outlined plans for every adult male in Poland to be given such training.
“At sea and in the air and on land, Poland is a vital contributor to NATO’s collective defence,” said Rutte. “Poland has been a vital and much valued ally for 26 years and you continue to lead by example.”
Poland has announced it intends to redirect billions of euros from its share of the EU post-pandemic recovery funds towards defence and security spending.
The plans, which still require EU approval, would make Poland the first member state to do this https://t.co/7hn3wMLpNP
— Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) March 26, 2025
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Main image credit: KPRM/Flickr (under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
Daniel Tilles is editor-in-chief of Notes from Poland. He has written on Polish affairs for a wide range of publications, including Foreign Policy, POLITICO Europe, EUobserver and Dziennik Gazeta Prawna.
