January 2008
At an AEI event on Thursday, January 31, 2008, Radek Sikorski, Poland's new foreign minister, gave a public address on Poland's role in helping shape transatlantic relations. In recent years, Poland has proven itself a robust and generous ally of the United States. Recently, however, Warsaw has made clear its dissatisfaction with the United States in a variety of areas. Sikorski discussed the evolving U.S.-Polish security relationship, the prospects for missile defense cooperation, and Polish contributions to the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Radek Sikorski
Foreign Minister of Poland
Since the fall of the Soviet Union, Poland and the United States have developed a robust strategic partnership. The two states' shared democratic values, commitment to combating terrorism, and cooperative efforts to stem nuclear proliferation have bound them in a close alliance. Eager to export its own hard-won freedom, Poland has also been supportive of U.S. democracy promotion.
Poland's relative comfort with American global leadership stems from the U.S. tradition of supporting states held captive under communist rule. Indeed, U.S. advocacy and determination opened NATO's doors to Poland and other countries in the region after the fall of communism. Poland, in turn, has supported the United States--in Western institutions and elsewhere--when it has had the chance.
Poland has been a dedicated NATO ally--its troops have participated in practically every operation conducted by the alliance since it joined. Poland has twice grown its mission to Afghanistan, refusing to place caveats on the use of its combat forces and urging other nations to do the same. Poland's leaders believe that NATO is still the essential vehicle for transatlantic dialogue on national security affairs.
Most recently, Poland has demonstrated its support for the United States by contributing forces to the conflict in Iraq. Since the 2003 invasion, Poland has had combat troops deployed in the country. It has become clear, however, that most of the objectives set for the Polish mission in Iraq have been fulfilled. In November 2007, the Polish government announced that it would withdraw its forces within a year. Even after that point, however, an element of Polish troops will continue to train Iraqi security forces.
Poland's leaders perceive the missile defense system proposed by the United States, which would be based in Poland and the Czech Republic, as an opportunity not only to further develop the U.S.-Polish security relationship, but also to bolster defense cooperation within Europe. It would be a welcome development if the proposed missile defense base were interoperable with existing NATO antimissile systems.
The United States asserts that the system would gird against the potential ballistic missile threat from states like Iran. While Poland does not feel immediately threatened by any of the states in the Middle East, it acknowledges the validity of American threat assessments with regard to the proliferation of ballistic missile technology and weapons of mass destruction. The missile defense system, therefore, would serve as a deterrent element within Poland's counterproliferation policy. By facilitating increased coordination between American and Polish forces, it would also provide a platform for the modernization of the Polish military.
Poland's leaders have some unique and pressing concerns to consider when debating missile defense partnership with the United States. Some of Poland's neighbors are opposed to the proposed system and have resorted to political coercion and blackmail to prevent its installation. While Poland is eager to strengthen its security ties with the United States and increase the vitality of NATO, it must prioritize its policy decisions in order to maximize security for Warsaw.
In return for any potential security cooperation, Poland expects solidarity from the United States and would like to see America more concerned about NATO's traditional role-- collective security--which constitutes the foundation of the transatlantic relationship. Poland, to be sure, would welcome NATO military installations of some kind on its territory. Finally, Poland's leaders hope that the United States will honor its tradition of integrating and accepting eastern European states and consider seriously Georgia and Ukraine's aspirations to join NATO.
AEI intern Milena Mikailova prepared this summary.
