Poland, the new EU presidency, said it would "grow the European defense industry...Strengthen ties with the United States"

Poland, which will chair the European Union and the EU in the first half of next year, has said it will focus on strengthening European security.

"As the chair country, I will put security first," Polish EU Minister Adam Schwabka told a news conference, according to PAP news agency, focusing on growing the European defense industry and strengthening ties with the United States.

The EU presidency is responsible for setting agendas and coordinating differences, with member states taking turns half a year.

The Polish government, which is actively supporting Ukraine, believes that President Andrzej Duda's close friendship with U.S. President Donald Trump, who will take office in January next year, will allow him to act as a mediator between the EU and the United States.

President Duda visited Trump in April, proposing to raise the defense spending target of NATO and NATO members to 3% of GDP and convincing Ukraine that it should not be abandoned.

Poland, which spends nearly 5% of its GDP on defense and has the largest share of its defense spending in Europe, is urging European countries to increase their defense spending ahead of Trump's inauguration, which even mentions leaving NATO.