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Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed the Polish President Andrzej Duda to NATO Headquarters on Thursday (14 March 2024), two days after the 25th anniversary of Poland's accession to NATO. The Secretary General praised Poland for its contributions to the Alliance and its strong support for Ukraine.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg with the President of Poland, Andrzej Duda
Mr Stoltenberg underlined that since joining NATO Poland has become "a key Ally and a security provider. You are building one of the biggest armies in NATO. You spend around 4 percent of GDP on defence, topping the NATO table," the Secretary General said, "and you are adding major capabilities, including F-35s, HIMARS, and helicopters."

The Secretary General and President Duda addressed Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and the need to step up support. "Despite heavy Russian losses, Putin has not scaled back his war aims. The situation remains difficult. Ukraine is in dire need of ammunition," Mr Stoltenberg said. He thanked Poland for being one of Ukraine's strongest supporters and underlined that NATO's latest polling across Allied countries found strong public support for continued aid to Ukraine.

In response to Russia's war, NATO has increased its presence in the east of the Alliance, including in Poland, the Secretary General emphasised. "This month, more than 20,000 soldiers are participating in the Polish-led Dragon 24, part of exercise Steadfast Defender, our largest military exercise since the Cold War," he said. "Poland makes the whole Alliance stronger and NATO makes all Allies safer."

Poland joined on 12 March 1999 alongside Czechia and Hungary.

Opinion as delivered

President Duda,
Dear Andrzej,

It's great to see you again.
Welcome back to NATO Headquarters.
It is always a pleasure to have you here.

This week, we mark the 25th anniversary of Poland's accession into NATO.

NATO's Open Door helped to spread freedom and democracy in Europe.

And since joining, Poland has become a key Ally and a security provider.

You are building one of the biggest armies in NATO.

You spend around 4 percent of GDP on defence, topping the NATO table.

And you are adding major capabilities, including F-35s, HIMARS, and helicopters.

Poland makes the whole Alliance stronger.
And NATO makes all Allies safer.

U.S. Patriot batteries and Italian jets guard your skies.
Over 10,000 Allied troops are based in Poland.
And in the summer, a long-planned US missile defence site in Poland will join NATO's missile shield.

Today in our meeting, we addressed Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.
Despite heavy Russian losses, Putin has not scaled back his war aims.

The situation remains difficult.
Ukraine is in dire need of ammunition.

Every day of delay in the US Congress translates into real consequences on the battlefield.

This morning I released our latest polling from across the Alliance.
It shows that two-thirds of our citizens - on both sides of the Atlantic - want their country to continue supporting Ukraine.

We also know that a large majority in Congress favour continued support.
Now we need to see this public and political support expressed in a vote - as soon as possible.
With courage and creativity, Ukraine has shown that Russia's military can be beaten.

Russia is paying a very high price for marginal gains.

On land, Putin's war has already cost Russia over 350,000 military casualties.

At sea, Ukrainian attacks have sunk or disabled a significant part of Russia's Black Sea fleet.

In the air, Ukraine is shooting down key Russian assets, including high-value surveillance aircraft.

I want to thank Poland for being one of the strongest supporters of Ukraine.
Providing weapons and offering refuge to over a million Ukrainians.

Today in our meeting, we also discussed further bolstering NATO's deterrence and defence.

In response to Russia's war, we have increased our presence in the east of the Alliance, including in Poland.

And this month, more than 20,000 soldiers are participating in the Polish-led "Dragon 24" - part of exercise Steadfast Defender, our largest military exercise since the Cold War.

We will continue to reinforce our Alliance.

And at our Summit in July, we will take further steps to strengthen NATO, support Ukraine, and deepen partnerships around the world.

So President Duda, thank you again for being here today.

And thank you for Poland's outstanding contributions to our Alliance.