Pentagon chief hails Poland as 'model ally'
Poland and the US are united in their pursuit of peace through strength, US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth declared during a meeting with his Polish counterpart Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz on Tuesday.
During the welcome of the Polish delegation at the Pentagon, Hegseth spoke warmly of Poland, praising the "rock-solid" relations between the two nations.
"Both countries demonstrate peace through strength," he said, adding that US President Donald Trump extends his regards and appreciation to the leadership of Poland and its people.
Hegseth reiterated Poland was a "model ally," one that does not require encouragement to allocate 5 percent of its GDP to defence spending. He also expressed his gratitude for Poland hosting around 8,000 American troops.
In reply, Kosiniak-Kamysz expressed Poland's desire to elevate its partnership with the US to the "next level." He said Poland fully supports the efforts of the Trump administration "to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine."
The Polish minister also spoke about the scale of contracts with the American defence industry – 128 contracts totalling USD 60 billion – and expressed optimism for continued collaboration between both nations.
The meeting with Hegseth is the focal point of Kosiniak-Kamysz's brief visit to the US. Prior to his arrival, he said that the talks would cover Poland's security, defence spending, military modernisation, contracts with the US and aid to Ukraine. (PAP)
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