23:06 18 August 2026
Poland may not be able to spend full planned amount on defense
Poland’s Armed Forces Support Fund spent just PLN 11.1 bln in the first half of 2026, or 14.5 percent of its PLN 77.2 bln annual budget. Spending on military modernization and the East Shield program reached PLN 9.2 bln, only 12.7 percent of the yearly plan. The Defense Ministry argues that procurement contracts and bond financing are complex and that most payments occur late in the year. SAFE funding has also been used slowly, with PLN 27.8 bln received but only PLN 157.7 mln spent so far.
The ministry rejects concerns about underutilization, noting that 62 SAFE-backed projects worth about PLN 120 bln had already been contracted by the end of May.
(pb.pl)
