Poland Supports Trump's NATO Spending Increase

President-elect Donald Trump’s proposal for NATO members to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP has provoked varied reactions across Europe. While Poland supports the target and is set to increase its spending to 4.7% by 2025, many countries, including Germany and Italy, view it as economically unfeasible. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz criticized the demand, emphasizing financial strains and potential tax hikes, while German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius acknowledged the need for increased military funding. NATO chief Mark Rutte suggested that through innovation and joint procurement, the required spending might be reduced to 3.7%. Analysts broadly agree that achieving Trump's target would be politically and economically challenging for the majority of the alliance's 32 members. Despite this, Poland's defense minister sees his country as a potential bridge to help implement Trump's ambitious defense goals in Europe.