LONDON – Poland is zeroing in on the European Union’s Security Action for Europe (SAFE) programme as its primary defence funding source, Finance Minister Andrzej Domanski affirmed on Tuesday, while keeping options open through technical talks on rival initiatives.
Speaking on the sidelines of a London visit, Domanski underscored SAFE’s appeal: cheap financing worth nearly €44 billion, ready for immediate deployment to counter Russia’s looming threat. “Right now, we are focused on the SAFE programme, it’s our priority,” he stated, highlighting its role in bolstering Poland’s security as Moscow’s aggression persists.
Domanski acknowledged Poland’s involvement in working groups exploring alternatives, including the UK-Finland-Netherlands Multilateral Defence Mechanism (MDM), which aims to attract private investment for joint procurement. He expressed greater interest in MDM over Canada’s proposed Defence, Security and Resilience Bank (DSRB), led by Prime Minister Mark Carney to enhance NATO and ally cooperation, though he offered no further details.
The remarks come as nations race to supercharge defence budgets amid Russia’s protracted war in Ukraine, now in its fourth year and unrelenting Middle East strife. These competing frameworks signal a fragmented yet urgent push for innovative funding to rearm Europe and its partners against rising geopolitical risks.