Poles to choose between pro-EU, MAGA paths in presidential vote
Poles vote in a presidential election on Sunday (May 18) that the pro-European government in Warsaw says can revive its stalled democratic drive and its nationalist opponents see as a chance to set Poland on a path inspired by U.S. President Donald Trump. Olivia Zollino reports.
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MoD plots £1.5bn radar upgrade as wind farms threaten to conceal attacks
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Telegraph
27 minutes ago
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Nawrocki's victory is a huge triumph for Trump
Poland has a history of confounding its critics and opponents to its West as well as its East. In Brussels or Moscow, the outcome of Poland's presidential election is a disappointment. The EU Commission had obviously hoped for the victory of the liberal Europhile mayor of Warsaw, Rafal Trzaskowski, who was a vocal proponent of the Brussels consensus on abortion, gay rights and even the liberalised migration rules backed by Poland's current premier and ex-EU insider, Donald Tusk. But these views were vehemently rejected by the nationalist winner, Karol Nawrocki. The new president also has a track record of being a fierce critic of Russia and has personally antagonised the Kremlin by supporting the removal of Soviet war memorials as well as Communist monuments in Poland, but his victory is a mixed blessing for Ukraine. Unlike the EU's two pro-Russian governments in Hungary and Slovakia, Nawrocki is no Kremlin apologist. As an historian Nawrocki has emphasised Poland's long history of repression by the Russian empire as well as the Soviet Union, so he is not a friend of the Kremlin. But, like his ally, the current Polish President, Andrzej Duda, Nawrocki does not ignore the bitter history of Polish-Ukrainian relations which Putin's invasion briefly papered over. Economic factors also haunt Warsaw's relations with Kyiv. Polish farmers made up a key component of the new Polish president's election winning coalition. They have been bitterly opposed to the EU's lifting of tariffs on Ukrainian agricultural exports since Putin's invasion. Although Brussels has in fact announced a reintroduction of tariffs on Ukrainian exports, the prospect of Ukraine's joining the EU means free trade in foodstuffs is back on the horizon. Recently, Poland's economy has grown at far faster rates than the sclerotic big three of the EU, Germany, France and Italy. Economic prosperity has boosted Poland's ability to fund a serious defence build up. Given the powerful voice that the Polish president has in foreign affairs and defence matters, Nawrocki's election will give Trump an important ally among the European leaders and sideline Donald Tusk, whose status as the EU's man in Warsaw makes him a red rag to the US president. Nawrocki's victory is the first success for Trump-style populism after the interventions by his vice-president, JD Vance, and other Maga voices in the recent German and Romanian elections had backfired. But Poland's new president got a boost from American Republicans in the days before the polls and looks set to continue his predecessor's close relationship with the Trump White House. Nawrocki's victory will add to Trump's pressure to turn EU rhetoric about rebuilding European states' defence capacity into concrete measures on the Polish model. Poland will emphasise US leadership rather than the more nebulous European strategic autonomy as promoted by France's Emmanuel Macron. Nawrocki's upset victory is a win for the West, but not for 'Europe'.
Daily Mail
28 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Starmer faces demands for cast-iron vow to spend 3% of GDP on defence as he unveils plan to make Britain 'war-ready'
Keir Starmer is facing demands for a cast-iron commitment to spend 3 per cent of GDP on defence today as he unveils a push to get Britain 'war-ready'. The PM is heralding a strategic review of the UK's military, promising investment in new submarines, munitions and personnel. He has warned that the mounting threat from Russia and allies such as Iran and North Korea means the country must ramp up preparations. Sir Keir argued this morning that being poised for conflict is the best way of avoiding it. But the blueprint is predicated on spending reaching 3 per cent in the next decade - with ministers sowing confusion over whether that will definitely happen. Yesterday Defence Secretary John Healey rowed back on a statement that the increase 'will' happen, stressing that it is an 'ambition'. The Treasury appears to be panicking over how to balance the books as the economy stalls. External authors of the report - expected to be accepted in full by Sir Keir - have suggested that reaching 3 per cent is 'vital' to its success. Key elements of the proposals include: Up to 12 new nuclear-powered attack submarines will be built; A £1.5billion push to set up at least six munitions factories, supporting the procurement of up to 7,000 UK-built long-range weapons British fighter jets could soon carry nuclear weapons for the first time; Increasing the number of people in the armed forces, but not until the next Parliament; More than £1.5billion in extra funding will go to military homes in response to the review. Writing in The Telegraph, Labour former minister Lord Robertson, Russian expert Fiona Hill and General Sir Richard Barrons said the 'Government's important decision to raise Defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2027-28 and, vitally, to 3 per cent in the next Parliament made an enormous difference'. They added: 'The decision established the affordability of our recommendations across a 10-year programme.' Sir Keir will launch the Government's Strategic Defence Review in Scotland, following many months of work and lobbying by military chiefs. But a Nato summit later this month is expected to push for members to hit 3.5 per cent by 2032, while US President Donald Trump has already called for a jump to 5 per cent within the alliance. Mr Healey told the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg show: 'We have a historic commitment to increasing defence spending to 2.5 per cent in two years' time. We haven't hit that level since Labour was last in power in 2010. And an ambition to meet 3 per cent in the next Parliament.' Challenged that it was an 'just an ambition' rather than a 'guarantee', Mr Healey talked about being able to 'deliver the vision' of today's review. Defence minister Luke Pollard again refused to confirm the commitment this morning, telling Times Radio: 'Well, we've set out that we are spending 2.5 per cent by April 2027, with the ambition to spend 3 per cent in the next parliament, when economic conditions allow.' He added: 'Well I've got no doubt that we will get to 3 per cent in the next parliament, as I've said a number of times.' Mr Pollard said the strategic defence review was the 'biggest transformation of our armed forces in 100 years'. He said: 'It seeks to learn the lessons from the war in Ukraine, refresh our capabilities, invest in our people, and underscore that increased defence spending up to 2.5 per cent of our GDP by April 2027 is an engine for growth.' The Ministry of Defence has already announced plans to build up to 12 new nuclear-powered attack submarines to boost the Royal Navy's commitment to the Aukus Pacific defence partnership with Australia and the United States, while investing £15billion in warheads. But the first of these UK-built submarines is not expected to enter service before the late 2030s. It will also be for future Parliaments to honour the spending commitment. The Conservatives have seized on on Labour's muddle on defence, accusing Mr Healey of weakening UK security. Tory defence spokesman James Cartlidge told the Mail: 'These promises on submarines are a fantasy fleet without real money to back them up. 'The fact is, John Healey has been forced into a humiliating climb down by the Treasury after confirming, as recently as Thursday, that defence spending would definitely rise to 3 per cent. 'But by Sunday he was backtracking completely. John Healey has been badly let down by the Chancellor – so now he knows how the rest of us feel.'
