Poland: The new spearhead of the transatlantic alliance | EUROtoday

Et is a symbolic second as Polish President Andrzej Duda and new Prime Minister Donald Tusk are welcomed to Washington by US President Joe Biden. Exactly 25 years earlier, on March 12, 1999, Poland formally joined NATO together with the Czech Republic and Hungary in Independence, Missouri.

The go to to the White House not solely celebrates Poland's quarter century within the Western alliance – however is a robust image for the current. Because Russia has been waging a brutal battle of aggression towards Poland's neighbor for 2 years, the alliance between Warsaw and Washington is stronger and extra necessary than ever.

additionally learn

Poland is a rustic deeply divided politically, however not in relation to its stance on Ukraine and Russia's aggression. This can be what the go to to Washington represents. Poland's President Duda, consultant of the right-wing nationalist PiS celebration, is touring with Prime Minister Tusk from the conservative Civic Platform (PO), which has been again in energy since autumn.

“Politically we differ on almost all issues, but on security issues we must and will act together,” Tusk introduced on the day of his departure to Washington. There might be no empty guarantees. On the eve of Poland's look within the United States, the Washington Post revealed an enchantment by Duda. He calls on NATO international locations to extend protection spending to 3 p.c of their gross home product (GDP).

“The current cap (of two percent, editor's note) was sufficient ten years ago, when Russia was not yet conducting a large-scale military operation in Ukraine, destroying settlements and murdering civilians there,” writes Duda. “We need more military strength today and we need to restore the defense industry in Europe.”

additionally learn

Tusk instantly helps the statements. “The President has the good will to mobilize NATO member states. He tries to embarrass those who don't even reach the two percent threshold. His initiative can serve to mobilize some countries more,” says the Polish Prime Minister.

A be aware that’s in all probability additionally aimed toward Germany. The federal authorities is reporting deliberate protection spending of two p.c of GDP for 2024 for the primary time in three a long time, however solely due to the 100 billion particular fund for the Bundeswehr, which is restricted to 5 years.

“The unity at the table was impressive”

In the Oval Office, Duda and Tusk spoke with Biden for greater than half an hour. Behind closed doorways it’s concerning the safety of European borders, elevated navy help for Ukraine and cooperation within the power sector, together with nuclear power.

In distinction to Germany, Poland shouldn’t be phasing out nuclear energy, however slightly becoming a member of it – and can be utilizing know-how from the USA. The first nuclear energy plant within the municipality of Choczewo might be based mostly on the most recent AP100 reactors from the US firm Westinghouse. During his keep within the USA, Duda visited an identical energy plant within the state of Georgia.

The matter of the shared use of nuclear weapons, the so-called “nuclear sharing,” may have come up in the course of the talks within the White House. US nuclear weapons have been saved for this goal in Germany for many years, however not in Poland. “The unity at the table was impressive. We had a common position with the US side on every point of the talks,” mentioned Tusk after the assembly with US President Biden.

Two days after his return from the United States, he’ll attend a Weimar Triangle assembly with French President Emmanuel Macron and Olaf Scholz in Berlin. There is much less unity between Ukraine's three primary allies within the EU.

additionally learn

The assembly was preceded by an open battle over Ukraine technique between Scholz and Macron. The Frenchman introduced up the choice for the longer term that Western troopers might help Ukraine on web site, for instance with coaching or mine clearance – a step that Scholz firmly rejects.

The disagreements haven’t been resolved to this present day and are placing a pressure on the EU at a time when it urgently wants unity. Tusk, who enjoys a excessive status in Brussels, additionally is aware of this. Poland will take over the presidency of the European Council on January 1, 2025 and can then additionally signify the EU in exterior relations.

Good relations with the USA are prone to be on the prime of the agenda – no matter who wins the American presidential election in November. However, Duda and Tusk won’t meet with the Republican candidate Donald Trump's staff in Washington, in keeping with unofficial info on the request of the Biden authorities.

“Thousands of lives are at stake”

Meanwhile, the Polish president meets with main representatives of the Democrats and Republicans within the Capitol. Duda praises the discussions with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson. But it’s Johnson's Republican faction that, below Trump's affect, is obstructing a $60 billion support bundle for Ukraine, which it urgently wants for the battle.

“This is not political banter,” Tusk mentioned after the assembly. “Thousands of lives are at stake. I hope that Speaker Johnson is aware of this.” After all, whereas he and Duda are in Washington, the Americans introduced a brand new $300 million bundle for Ukraine. An necessary step, however far too small for Ukrainian wants.

additionally learn

In order to allay fears of potential Russian aggression towards one of many NATO international locations in Central and Eastern Europe, Poland want to enable much more US troopers into the nation. Around 10,000 US troopers are at present stationed in Poland as a part of NATO air surveillance and the bilateral Operation Atlantic Resolve. So far there have been no alerts from Washington to extend the variety of troops.

Poland is due to this fact working by itself safety and is investing some huge cash in upgrading its military. Money that additionally flows to US firms. “The United States is a power and our backbone when it comes to security. Because Poland is his biggest ally,” says Duda.

However, in Warsaw persons are conscious that constructing a robust military shouldn’t be simple. “Our military will be well equipped,” says the Polish president. However, on account of manufacturing capability and funds, it’s not possible to do all the things without delay.

In Georgia, Duda additionally visited the navy base at Fort Stewart. At the U.S. Army's third Infantry Division headquarters, he noticed M1A2 Abrams primary battle tanks and AH64 Apache assault helicopters on the coaching floor. Washington has agreed to promote Poland greater than 1,800 missiles and supply a $2 billion mortgage to buy 96 trendy helicopters.

Poland's dedication to Ukraine and European safety can be acknowledged by NATO. “Poland is making the entire NATO stronger,” mentioned Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg when Duda visited him in Brussels on his approach again from the USA.

Even if you happen to strip away the political gestures, it nonetheless appears as if Poland's voice is lastly being really heard on this planet after 25 years of NATO membership.

Michał Wodziński is editor-in-chief of the Polish newspaper “Fakt”, which is revealed by Ringier Axel Springer Polska – the Polish subsidiary of Axel Springer Verlag, which additionally owns WELT.