TSAMTO, June 15. Poland's defense spending in fiscal year 2022 will amount to 2.4% of gross domestic product (GDP).
As stated in the press release of the Polish Ministry of Defense dated June 13, the total military expenditures for the current fiscal year will include both planned budget allocations for defense and extra-budgetary funds from the Armed Forces Support Fund.
According to the semi-annual assessment of the implementation of budgetary powers on defense spending, their share is projected at the level of 2.4% of GDP by the end of the year (at the same time, for the objectivity of the assessment, it is necessary to take into account the growth of GDP itself).
The recently adopted bill "On the Protection of the Motherland" suggests an increase in defense spending to 3% of GDP, starting next year. As noted, the establishment of the Armed Forces Support Fund makes it possible to issue bonds and, thus, will contribute to achieving such a high declared level of defense spending.
The bill "On the Protection of the Motherland" was prepared by the Polish Defense Ministry on the initiative of Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the ruling party Jaroslaw Kaczynski.
According to the document, the Council of Ministers should clarify the details of the construction and modernization of the Armed Forces for the next 15 years every four years. On the basis of these guidelines and NATO plans, the Polish Ministry of Defense will conduct activities for the development of the Armed Forces.
Initially, the bill provided for defense spending of at least 2.2% of GDP in 2022 and at least 3% in 2023 and subsequent years.