Poland plans record defence spending for 2026 as ties with Canada strengthen

Poland is set to allocate its highest-ever defence budget in 2026, as the government steps up military and strategic cooperation with international partners.

On August 24, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz met in Warsaw with Canada’s Defence Minister, David J. McGuinty, Caliber.Az reports via Polish media.

“I am pleased that Canada has accepted my invitation to be the leading partner at next year’s defence industry fair in Kielce,” Kosiniak-Kamysz said during a briefing on 25 August.

He noted that Poland and Canada plan to collaborate on creating joint ventures and securing EU funds for the development of defence industries.

The talks focused on Ukraine and NATO cooperation. “We are an important partner for Canada, both economically and in terms of security challenges.” 

Kosiniak-Kamysz added, referring to the 120 Canadian soldiers currently stationed in Poland, largely carrying out training missions for Ukrainian troops. Key topics included bilateral military cooperation, cyber capabilities, military education, and combating illegal migration.

Following the meeting with McGuinty, Kosiniak-Kamysz held talks with Kamal Ghaffarian, CEO of US private space company Axiom Space, exploring potential cooperation in aerospace and defence technology.

On August 25, he also announced that the government will address the draft 2026 budget later this week, which includes the highest-ever spending on national security. 

Under the Polish constitution, the budget bill must be submitted by the Council of Ministers to the lower house of parliament (Sejm) by 30 September.

Earlier discussions between Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney indicated that Poland and Canada will soon upgrade their bilateral relations to the level of a strategic partnership.

By Aghakazim Guliyev