Polish President Vetoes EU Defense Funding, Sparking Political Debate

Polish President Nawrocki has vetoed EU loans for a major military modernization program, citing concerns over national sovereignty. The EU Commission had approved Poland's request for €43.7 billion from the €150 billion SAFE (Security Action for Europe) initiative in mid-2025. This funding, financed through joint EU debt, offered favorable repayment terms over 45 years. The decision comes amid political tensions ahead of the 2027 elections, disrupting previous cross-party consensus on maintaining defense spending at 5% of GDP. France and Romania are the second and third largest beneficiaries of the SAFE program.