East Front News #51: NATO Summit in Hague, Polish MoD and National Security Bureau Interviewed by Defence24.pl

East Front News is a weekly newsletter summarizing the past week’s most important events concerning security and the situation in the Central and Eastern Europe region. It includes original opinions and comments, along with key news items significant from a Polish perspective. If you would like to receive this newsletter, please sign up by clicking .
NATO Summit in Hague - what will Poland and the Alliance gain?
At the NATO summit in The Hague, groundbreaking decisions were made to increase defense spending, which could pave the way for the North Atlantic Alliance to significantly increase its combat capabilities. However, these will be achieved at different rates in different countries. What will the decisions made at the Hague summit actually bring?
This year’s NATO summit declaration is short but specific. The allies« commitment to collective defense under Article 5 was reaffirmed, Russia was identified as a long-term threat, and the allies pledged to spend 5% of GDP on security, including 3.5% of GDP on defense. This will involve presenting plans to achieve these targets on a year-on-year basis, as well as meeting updated guidelines on specific capabilities (known as Capability Targets). A broader review of spending plans will be carried out in 2029.
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German Patriots to stay in Poland, and Air Support from Australia and Norway
All allies agreed to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP, German Patriot missile systems will remain at the airport in Jasionka until the end of the year, Norway will send its F-35s again, and Australia will support Poland with an early warning aircraft, said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, who participated in the NATO summit in The Hague
„There is a positive decision on 5% spending on armaments, modernization, transformation, military mobility, and all matters related to the security of our countries,” said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz on Wednesday at the summit in The Hague. He emphasized that „there is no country that would oppose this.” After discussions between defense ministers and foreign ministers, and some persuasion, there is agreement on five percent; this will be the most important outcome of the summit,” he added.
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4 % of GDP for Defence in the Constitution. Head of the National Security Bureau Explains Why
A firm, constitutional guarantee of maintaining defence spending at 4 % of GDP stems from those actions and investments strengthening our defence that have already been undertaken or will soon be launched, emphasizes Dariusz Łukowski, Head of the National Security Bureau (BBN), in an interview with Defence24.pl. Polish President Andrzej Duda, who oversees the National Security Bureau, has recently proposed
„A firm, constitutional guarantee of maintaining defence spending at 4 % of GDP stems from those actions and investments strengthening our defence that have already been undertaken or will soon be launched. I emphasize: it is a logical continuation of current investments. As I have signaled repeatedly, purchasing equipment is only one part of the process.
Currently, vast outlays are being devoted mainly to signing arms contracts. The next step will be to create the conditions to move from procurement to having fully capable military formations—equipped, trained, and certified to operate that equipment. For that to happen, a number of conditions must be met: providing supporting infrastructure, training additional personnel, and maintaining the entire system in a state of readiness for many years. That, too, requires significant outlays.” - said gen. Łukowski. As the interview has been conducted just before the NATO Summit in Hague, general Łukowski also explained what was the Polish position.
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Polish MoD: Ukraine Has Re-examined Military Dogmas. European Funds Can Mitigate Shortfalls
„We expect Poland could secure around PLN 120–130 billion from SAFE. While 2030 might seem distant, we must do everything procedurally to be ready. We are fully aware of the current geopolitical situation and its volatility. What’s happening in Ukraine has led to a re-examination of military dogmas about modern battlefields, while exposing shortfalls—for example, in ammunition production. SAFE funds can help address these gaps” - as Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, Head of the Polish MoD, told Defence24.pl in an interview.
„SAFE is a win-win—for both the states and their industries. Its flexibility allows for varied procurement arrangements, whether involving one, two, or multiple countries. Poland plans to secure as much as possible for our factories and armed forces. Prospects look optimistic. These billions of zlotys could fund production of systems like the Baobab mine-laying system, Piorun air-defence missile launchers, Krab self-propelled howitzers, or Borsuk infantry fighting vehicles. Our export products are valued by Polish troops and allied forces alike—and that’s precisely what we should highlight and leverage under this programme” - added the Deputy Prime Minister.
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How many K9 Howitzers does Polish Army operate?
The Polish Army is steadily taking delivery of successive K9A1 self-propelled howitzers, which may soon become the most numerous type of artillery in our service. How many have been delivered so far?
The editorial team at Defence24.pl received information on the number of K9A1 howitzers accepted into service by the Polish Army. In response to our inquiry, the Public Affairs Department of the Armament Agency reported that 20 units were delivered to Poland this year, and an additional 18 are awaiting formal acceptance into unit inventories. In total, 174 K9A1s have arrived in the country so far, of which 156 are already in service with the Polish Armed Forces. Upon arrival in Poland, the vehicles are equipped with, among other things, the Fonet communications system and the Topaz Automated Fire Control System.
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More Homar-K modules in Poland
State Secretary at the Ministry of National Defence Paweł Bejda has announced that another nine launcher modules destined for the Homar-K rocket systems have arrived in our country in recent days.
This delivery is already the second one reported in June; the previous one was mentioned by the State Secretary at the beginning of the current month (although the shipment itself most likely took place at the end of May and, for security reasons, publication was delayed by a few days). As before, nine launcher modules have arrived this time as well and will now be integrated with domestically produced components.
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Cyber Forces: Israel
Israel is not only developing its air forces, which demonstrated their capabilities in the attack on Iran, but is also advancing in the cyber domain. Having been a target of cyberattacks for years, digital rivalry has become one of its top priorities – something Israeli military officials frequently emphasise. While there have been mistakes along the way, Tel Aviv now possesses some of the most developed cyber forces in the world
Today, Israel is undoubtedly one of the most advanced countries globally in the field of cybersecurity and cyber military capabilities. As one of the first nations to strategically recognise cyberspace as a new dimension of conflict, it has built a unique, synergistic model of cooperation between the state, military, private sector, and academia. With limited strategic depth and constant asymmetric threats, cyberspace has become a tool of strategic compensation for Israel, enabling power projection below the threshold of war.
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East Front News is a weekly newsletter and article on Defence24.com summarizing the past week’s most important events concerning security and the situation in the Central and Eastern Europe region. It includes original opinions and comments, along with key news items significant from a Polish perspective.
Jakub Palowski, Deputy Ed. in Chief