Poland含羞草研究社檚 president says members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, including Canada, must raise defence spending to three per cent of GDP to deter Russia含羞草研究社檚 war in Ukraine from spreading.
Andrzej Duda made the comments at a speech in Vancouver on Friday, a day ahead of his meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
While not saying Canada by name, Duda says the West has 含羞草研究社渁 lot of gaps含羞草研究社� in its industrial base to produce military aid for Ukraine in its defence against Russia, a problem that needs to be resolved if Moscow含羞草研究社檚 threats are to be deterred.
Duda says he first broached the idea of NATO members boosting defence spending from two per cent to three per cent of GDP during a visit to the United States in March, and will again push the topic during a NATO summit in Washington, D.C., in July.
In 2022, Canada spent 1.2 per cent of its GDP on its military. The last time it was at two per cent was 1990.
Poland, which shares a border with Ukraine, has boosted its defence spending to four per cent of GDP and has been one of the top military aid providers to Ukraine.
Duda says Baltic and Eastern European countries near the front lines of the Russia-Ukraine conflict need support in backing Ukraine and he called for other allies to help bring about 含羞草研究社渁 clear military loss含羞草研究社� for Moscow.
含羞草研究社淭hey understand exclusively this very language,含羞草研究社� Duda says. 含羞草研究社淩egrettably, they don含羞草研究社檛 care much for Western sanctions and for declining living standards.含羞草研究社�
When asked what Canada can do to support Poland in its efforts, Duda recounted a conversation with Trudeau about a week before the conflict between Russia and Ukraine broke out.
He says Trudeau was worried about Poland含羞草研究社檚 含羞草研究社渢ough policy含羞草研究社� against illegal migration and its possible impact if Ukrainian refugees flooded Polish borders during a war.
The Polish leader says both its policy against illegal migration and the subsequent opening of borders to Ukrainian refugees reflect a common principle that Poland has an obligation to its allies and partners.
含羞草研究社淵ou should remember that we have responsibility for the border of the European Union and Schengen zone,含羞草研究社� says Duda, referring to the border area around the European Union.
含羞草研究社淲e have to protect this border not only in our own interest but also in the interest according to European obligations.含羞草研究社�
Duda adds Poland believes Russia would move westward if Ukraine falls, with the Baltic states and Poland in its immediate path, and while Poland is prepared, it doesn含羞草研究社檛 negate the need for others in NATO to also prepare.
含羞草研究社淯nfortunately, yes, we are ready,含羞草研究社� he says. 含羞草研究社淏ut we also realize that we have to strengthen our military capabilities.
含羞草研究社淲e need new tanks in state-of-the-art technology. We need new howitzers. We need new helicopters 含羞草研究社� what we buy from the United States, from American industry, from South Korean industry (is) because we need it.含羞草研究社�
Duda arrived in Canada from the United States, where he met earlier this week with former U.S. President Donald Trump in New York in what the Polish leader described as a 含羞草研究社渇riendly meeting in very nice atmosphere.含羞草研究社�
Funding aimed at providing more aid to Ukraine in the U.S. has been held up by Trump allies in Congress.
READ ALSO:
READ ALSO:
