“This is a pivotal moment in the history of Poland and the European Union,” declared Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk at the signing of the agreement. “Poland will be safer in these difficult and high-risk times,” he added.
The most populous country on the eastern flank of NATO, Poland is the country in the alliance which devotes the most spending to its defense, in relative terms, with 4.8% of its gross domestic product (GDP).
The European Union’s Security Action For Europe program or Action for Security in Europe (SAFE), created in 2025, makes 150 billion euros available in the form of preferential loans to finance joint projects in defense, the purchase of weapons or ammunition, as well as the development of critical infrastructure.
The lessons of history
With this 43.7 billion euro loan, Poland is the main beneficiary of the program, developed for European countries seeking to reinvigorate their defense industry in order to face the Russian threat and the risk of disengagement from the United States.
The challenges of Europe’s rearmament: strategic awakening or organized chaos?
After decades spent reaping the “peace dividend,” Europeans are rearming at high speed, but in a disorganized, even confused, manner. However, the security of the continent depends on the implementation of a military policy designed collectively and based on a defense industry which would become significantly less dependent on the United States.
“It is also the day when Europe […] shows that she has learned the lessons of history and is ready […] to take much greater responsibility for our security,” commented Donald Tusk.
