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Poland’s defence minister confident about NATO’s future

19.01.2026 20:00
Poland’s defence minister, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, has said he remains calm about the future of NATO, despite growing tensions linked to a dispute over Greenland.
Polands deputy prime minister and defence minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz speaks during a press briefing at the headquarters of the Special Forces Component Command in Kraków, southern Poland, January 18, 2026.
Poland’s deputy prime minister and defence minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz speaks during a press briefing at the headquarters of the Special Forces Component Command in Kraków, southern Poland, January 18, 2026.Photo: PAP/Art Service

Speaking in Kraków on Monday, Kosiniak-Kamysz said there was "no alternative to NATO", stressing that the alliance could not exist without the United States, and that US global influence would in turn be weakened without NATO.

His comments come after US President Donald Trump announced plans on Saturday to impose 10 percent tariffs on eight European countries over their response to his claims on Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark.

The tariffs are set to rise to 25 percent in June and would remain in place until the US reaches an agreement on the purchase of the island.

Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Finland and the United Kingdom would be affected.

In recent days, these countries have sent small contingents of troops to Greenland to take part in Danish-led military exercises known as "Arctic Endurance".

On Sunday, the eight countries reiterated their solidarity with Denmark and Greenland.

Asked about the dispute, Kosiniak-Kamysz said that while political rhetoric could be intense, it was ultimately actions that mattered.

He argued that no party benefited from weakening NATO, including the United States.

The minister pointed to decisions taken at a recent NATO summit in The Hague, including raising defence spending targets to 5 percent of GDP, describing them as among the most significant in decades.

He added that without NATO, US influence would be "severely weakened", while Europe continued to need American involvement in its security.

The Polish minister also said Poland was a "model ally" of the US, highlighting the ongoing expansion of US military facilities in the country, including in Wrocław and Bolesławiec.

An extraordinary meeting of the European Council is due to take place on Thursday to discuss the Greenland dispute.

The president of the European Council, António Costa, has said EU member states support Denmark and Greenland and warned that the threatened tariffs could weaken transatlantic relations.

(ał)

Source: PAP