Poland is a superb ally and partner of the United States. This is true in many areas – human rights, economic growth, energy security – but particularly in counterterrorism, nonproliferation, missile defense, and regional cooperation in Central and Eastern Europe. As Putin continues his aggressive behavior, Poland – NATO’s biggest defense spender at 4.7 percent of GDP – serves as a stalwart defender of freedom.

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The strong U.S.-Poland relationship – and our shared commitment to freedom and democracy – dates back to the American Revolution. In fact, today, there are around 10,000 American soldiers stationed there. Poland can never doubt that the United States of America will stand with them, and that we will always have their backs.

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In December 2023, Donald Tusk, the leader of the centrist Civic Coalition, was elected Prime Minister by the Polish parliament, beating the governing Law and Justice party (PiS) and its allies and bringing together three separate political coalitions. Tusk framed the election as a referendum on the future of democracy in Poland and pledged to repair relations with the European Union (EU). He also pledged to unblock EU funding by reversing the judicial reforms of the PiS Government; promised support for Ukraine; committed to make anti-LGBT hate speech a crime; and depoliticize the media.

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Some of Tusk’s promises have been kept – like beginning to restore the independence of the judiciary and removing the board of state TV, radio and press organizations – but some, like the loosening of abortion laws, have not (to the immense frustration of many voters).

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Meanwhile, Tusk started to prepare Poland for war. In early March 2025, he announced that Poland would seek access to nuclear arms and would build a 500,000-strong army to defend Poland against Russian threats. Under Tusk, Poland has increased its domestic military spending to 4.7 percent of GDP and reaffirmed its relationship with NATO.

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Thank goodness for Tusk’s leadership because, in September 2025, Vladimir Putin – in the first confrontation between NATO warplanes and Russian drones over alliance territory – escalated his standoff with the West, violating Polish airspace with 20 Russian drones outfitted with additional fuel tanks, indicating Putin meant for them to fly even farther.

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After NATO-member fighter jets shot down the drones, Prime Minister Tusk said, “I have no reason to claim we’re on the brink of war, but a line has been crossed, and it’s incomparably more dangerous than before. This situation brings us the closest we have been to open conflict since World War II.” Yikes!

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In the beginning of his tenure, the main political problem facing Prime Minister Tusk and his populist conservative politics was Polish President Andrzej Duda, who was backed by the right-wing populist and national-conservative Law and Justice Party. Although the presidency in Poland is mostly a ceremonial role, the president can veto legislation or recommend it to the Constitutional Court for review, as well as other obstructionist things like refusing to sign the budget.

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Unfortunately for Tusk, this standoff won’t likely end anytime soon because, in June 2025, conservative historian Karol Nawrocki, also supported by the Law and Justice Party, was elected Poland’s president. Nawrocki, who was endorsed by Donald Trump, has been openly hostile to Poland’s centrist government and has promised to block Ukraine’s NATO accession and give priority to ties with America over Europe.