New Delhi, March 14 -- Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk vowed on Friday to find ways to tap into 43.7 billion euros ($50.1 billion) in defense loans from the European Union despite a veto by the country's president against a law enabling access to the funds.

Poland was set to be the largest beneficiary of the EU's 150 billion-euro Security Action for Europe initiative, or SAFE, which is designed to boost Europe's defense readiness at a time when the U.S. has been diminishing its role in the continent's security.

But President Karol Nawrocki, who has positioned himself as a main opponent of Tusk, said Thursday he is vetoing the legislation allowing Poland to access the EU defense loans.

"Poland is in shock," Tusk said Friday. "People a...