The Polish government has approved its 2026 budget proposal, allocating a record €46.9 billion to defence as it seeks to strengthen national security.
The cabinet, which gave its approval on Thursday, underscored security as the nation’s top priority, reflecting Poland’s position next to Russia’s Kaliningrad region and its heightened vigilance since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
“In the forecast for 2026 and in the 2026 budget law, security is also an absolute priority for us. That is why we are allocating a record 200 billion Złotys (€46.86 billion) to defence,” Polish Minister for Finance and Economy, Andrzej Domański, said during a press conference on Thursday.
“The proposed 2026 budget is a budget of security, investment, and support for citizens. We are investing in security and resilience,” he added.
Furthermore, Domański said that the new budget would raise Poland’s defence spending to 4.8% of GDP, moving it closer to the 5% target set at the NATO summit in June.
Poland already allocates the largest portion of its GDP to defence within NATO, a commitment that has frequently drawn praise from the alliance’s strongest proponent of increased military spending, US President Donald Trump.
“Poland must be prepared not only militarily but also economically. Today’s times require responsible governments to treat every zloty spent as a smart and thoughtful investment,” Domański stated.
Whereas Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote on social media platform X: “There’s a budget! That means the largest army, the greatest economic growth, the biggest investments, the end of high prices, low unemployment.
“The price for this is a high deficit, but under control. We’re doing, not talking.”
Seeing the conflict in nearby Ukraine as a possible risk to its own safety, Poland has substantially strengthened its defence capabilities over the past three years.
Domański stated that the budget is built on an anticipated economic growth rate of 3.5% of GDP, with inflation projected to average 3% and wages expected to increase by 6.4%.
He also noted that inflation this year is declining more quickly than forecast, with the most recent figure at 3.1%.
In addition, Domański noted that economic growth is picking up, projected to hit 3.4% of GDP this year, positioning Poland as the fastest-growing large economy in the EU.
He also said that the country is on track to become one of the world’s 20 largest economies.
Apart from defence, the budget outlines ambitious economic and social goals, including 247.8 billion złotys (€58.1 billion) for healthcare, an increase of 25 billion złotys (€5.86 billion) compared with last year.
It also earmarks a record 6.7 billion złotys (€1.6 billion) for the housing sector.
The budget also provides funding for key infrastructure projects, including Poland’s first nuclear power plant, which is planned to begin construction in 2028 and become operational in 2036.