Key Points Defense expenditure policies now should be akin to those in force during the Cold War-era, “whether we like it or not,” Polish President Andrzej Duda told CNBC on Wednesday. Duda said that Poland’s defence spending was close to 5% of its gross domestic product and called on NATO allies to increase their funding as well. As a member of NATO, Poland has earned itself some immunity from criticism from the U.S. for spending the most money, as a percentage of GDP, on defense. It’s “paramount” that Europe returns to Cold War-era defense spending policies as the war in Ukraine continues, Polish President Andrzej Duda told CNBC on Wednesday. The president warned the security situation in Europe has “drastically changed” since 2014, when NATO’s defense expenditure rules were first introduced. As a member of NATO, Poland has also earned itself some immunity from criticism from the U.S. for spending the most money, as a percentage of GDP, on defense. NATO estimates suggest that Poland spent 4.12% of GDP on defense in 2024. The U.S., in third place after Estonia, spent 3.38% of GDP on defense expenditure. Polish Finance Minister Andrzej Domański told CNBC earlier Wednesday that Poland’s relations with Washington were “very, very good, and we are buying lots of U.S. military equipment, tanks, fighter jets. Actually, you name it, we buy it.” “But, as [the] European Union, of course we must remain united in our relations with the U.S. It’s of course, the most important for the EU to focus on bringing back competitiveness back to Europe,” he added. “I do believe this is the best answer for any possible tension with the U.S., and we know how to do it, and we will do it step by step. And during the Polish presidency [the six-month rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union], we will put competitiveness at the very heart of the discussion,” Domanski added. Follow CNBC International