In a situation where we are dealing with a distinctly anti-Polish government pursuing a pro-German policy in strategic terms – amid mounting problems, the severing of the alliance with the United States, which was the direction of Berlin’s installation of Donald Tusk in Poland – the foreign policy of President Karol Nawrocki and his efforts to maintain continuity in relations with the United States are absolutely crucial for our security, says Prof. Piotr Grochmalski, an international affairs expert, in an interview with Niezależna.pl.
Although it is hard to believe how quickly time passes, it has now been 100 days since Karol Nawrocki was sworn in as the President of Poland.
The intensity of the new president’s work over the first weeks and months in office is striking. Donald Tusk’s government, which in the election campaign promised one hundred concrete actions for its first hundred days, falls far behind when compared with how swiftly Karol Nawrocki has turned his own pre-election pledges and declarations into action. On the government’s list, at most 33 promised projects can be checked off. Meanwhile, within these first hundred days, Karol Nawrocki has submitted 11 draft laws to the Sejm, vetoed 13 laws, and signed 70. Among the most prominent initiatives are the bills “YES! To the Central Communication Hub (CPK),” “Cheap Electricity – 33%,” “A Dignified Pension,” and “Zero PIT (Eng. tax return). Family Plus.”
But that is not all. The president has made 11 foreign visits, including two trips to the United States. To this, one must add 23 domestic visits, convening the Cabinet Council, appointing representatives to the Social Dialogue Council, and initiating work on the National Security Strategy and a “security constitution.”
“He strengthened the partnership with the United States”
One hundred days in office is a good moment for an initial assessment of the president’s work so far. This is precisely what Niezależna.pl discussed with Prof. Piotr Grochmalski, a political scientist and expert in international affairs. Among the key events of this period, the interlocutor highlights the first of President Nawrocki’s two visits to the United States and his meeting with Donald Trump.
This was a particularly important visit from the perspective of maintaining continuity in relations with Washington, the expert emphasizes.
“The United States is a strategic ally of Poland – not only because Poland is a frontline state and an important member of NATO, but also because, during Donald Trump’s first term, in 2020, a treaty on enhanced defense cooperation was signed. On one hand, it covered the stationing of U.S. troops in Poland and additional legal issues; on the other, it strengthened the exchange of information between both sides. This is an extremely important area, as the war in Ukraine has shown. Obtaining intelligence – information of special significance – allows earlier decision-making. This achievement is owed to President Andrzej Duda, as is the introduction of his successor, President Nawrocki, to the privileged relationship with the United States,” Prof. Grochmalski recalls.
“President Nawrocki also did something else of great significance before his talks in the U.S. It was crucial not only for Poland’s security, but also for the countries of the Three Seas Initiative that face the threat of possible Russian aggression and are in a difficult geopolitical position due to the Suwałki Gap. He swiftly organized a mini-summit at which he demonstrated his capacity for coordination. This resembled the actions of the late President Lech Kaczyński, who in 2008 was able to quickly organize a delegation of leaders to Georgia. That visit to Tbilisi had a significant influence on the course of that conflict,” he adds.
“During the election campaign, it was argued that Karol Nawrocki lacked experience in international affairs. By organizing the summit, the president put an end to such claims. He also confirmed his effectiveness and his ability to strengthen relations with the United States. He consolidated the partnership not only with President Donald Trump himself, but with the entire U.S. administration,” Prof. Grochmalski notes.
“He is repairing what Tusk’s government is destroying”
“Through his conduct and the direction of his policy over the past hundred days, President Nawrocki has confirmed that he is a supporter of the pro-American line. A line which, for obvious reasons, cannot be pursued by Donald Tusk’s government, which is radically pro-German,” the interlocutor continues.
“If we take into account two alarming signals – Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth’s comparison of the current geostrategic situation to that of 1939, and the NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, who warned in the summer that the Americans expect a Russian attack on a NATO country and a Chinese attack on Taiwan around 2027 – it becomes clear that for Poland and our security, maintaining excellent relations with the United States and with President Trump is a strategic matter. Of course, this would be impossible if we relied on the prime minister. Donald Tusk is pursuing a German strategy that is extremely dangerous for Poland’s security,” Prof. Grochmalski states.
“There is a strategic blockade of important undertakings pursued by Poland – a blockade carried out by Tusk’s government and benefiting Germany and Russia. This includes the paralysis of judicial institutions, the destruction of the state’s financial system, the wrecking of the economy, a rapid debt spiral, the evaporation of billions from the budget, open announcements of new arms contracts with Germany, and actions severely limiting state sovereignty, such as the Migration Pact or interference in Polish affairs by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office,” he lists.
“In a situation where we face a distinctly anti-Polish government implementing a pro-German policy at the strategic level– amid mounting problems, severing ties with the U.S., which was the direction in which Berlin’s installation of Donald Tusk in Poland was heading – the foreign policy of President Karol Nawrocki and the effort to maintain continuity in relations with the U.S. are absolutely crucial for our security,” the expert says.
“All of Tusk’s provocative actions toward President Nawrocki must be viewed as an attempt to strategically paralyze Poland. The president’s stance and his actions to date are extremely important because they make it possible to repair the enormous damage done by the “December 13th coalition” government in relations with Washington. These losses are immense,” he adds.
“In these circumstances, the first hundred days of Nawrocki’s presidency should be seen as a heroic struggle against the German tilt, the drift toward Berlin, which in many dimensions – especially in terms of security – is suicidal for Poland and responsible for the massive depletion of Polish resources,” the expert concludes.