Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki is eager for his nation to be the best friend America has always sought in the European Union (EU). The EU’s “Old Guard” powers (Germany and France) have been more competitive “frenemies” of the United States, often taking pleasure in criticizing and embarrassing American leaders and policies.
In late May, I met with Morawiecki, and it became clear that Morawiecki and Poland bear no such mixed feelings or ill will towards the United States.
The Polish government invited me to visit Warsaw to meet with Morawiecki and other members of Poland’s government. For approximately an hour, in an intimate gathering in the Chancellery building, Morawiecki shared his thoughts on a wide range of issues and fielded questions from me and four other American public policy professionals.
Morawiecki’s point of greatest emphasis was the importance of the trans-Atlantic alliance between the EU and America. Many people and political leaders in Europe take pride in being independent of America. Such people view the trans-Atlantic alliance as one of pragmatism, especially in regard to gaining protection under America’s security umbrella. Morawiecki envisions a much closer trans-Atlantic relationship: one of true and enthusiastic friendship.
In the EU, Germany and France lead the Old Guard of Western European nations that dominate EU decision-making. Poland is most prominent among the New Guard of Central and Eastern European nations that often view things differently than Germany and France. For years, Germany and France have been shifting EU economic and geopolitical ties away from America and closer to Russia, despite warnings from Poland and other former Iron Curtain nations not to trust Russian intentions. With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Poland has unfortunately been vindicated.
As a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the EU is recalibrating. Not only was Poland prescient—if ignored—in its past warnings about potential Russian aggression, but Poland is now also the center of gravity regarding the EU’s response to Russian aggression. The vast majority of European (and American) military and humanitarian assistance for Ukraine enters the embattled nation through Poland. Poland has willingly absorbed most of the Ukrainian refugees fleeing the war. Poland continues to spend a greater percentage of its gross domestic product on military defense than any other EU nation.
In 2003, then-French President Jacques Chirac lashed out at Poland and other Eastern European nations for supporting U.S. foreign policy too much and not falling in line behind Germany and France. Chirac chided the Eastern European nations for missing “a good opportunity to shut up.” Now in 2023, current French President Emmanuel Macron has apologized for Chirac’s 2003 rebuke.
Poland greatly values its place within the EU. Poland also greatly admires America as a beacon of freedom. The EU should recalibrate closer to America, Morawiecki believes, and Poland is a friend in the EU that America can trust.
“Poland recognizes that America is the bedrock of freedom in the modern world,” Poland’s Vice Consul to the Polish Consulate in New York, Stanislaw Starnawski, explained to me. “That is a freedom Poland fought very hard for and cherishes to this day. America is a beacon of light for Poland.”
Morawiecki and Starnawski hope the European Old Guard will rediscover this truth, as well.
“Poland’s love for America transcends White House personalities,” Starnawski observed. “Poland viewed America as a special nation when Donald Trump was president, and Poland views America as a special nation now as Joe Biden is president.”
“It’s nice to have an ally who truly likes you,” Morawiecki noted. “Doesn’t America want a friend that genuinely loves America back?”
As Poland gains in international prominence and influence, will America take Poland up on its offer?
