“We feel that we are a strong country on NATO’s eastern flank, but we also believe in diplomacy, which is natural within NATO; we believe in our cooperation with NATO and the European Union. Diplomacy is an element of security guarantees” said Polish President Karol Nawrocki during a discussion panel on European defense at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
President Nawrocki at the debate on Europe’s defense in Davos
President Nawrocki took part today in a discussion panel devoted to Europe’s defense entitled “Can Europe defend itself?”, with participants including NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Finnish President Alexander Stubb. “There is a need for solidarity in Europe, but beyond that, there is a need to build good transatlantic relations. I think transatlantic relations are very important. We in Europe know, I know, Alex knows, all my European friends know how many mistakes Europe made before 2022 and after 2022”, he announced.
He emphasized that “he believes in Polish soldiers, in our history, in our readiness to fight anyone who wants to invade Poland.”
“Therefore, we feel that we are a strong country on NATO’s eastern flank, but we also believe in diplomacy, which is natural within NATO; we believe in our cooperation with NATO and the European Union. Diplomacy is an element of security guarantees”, he stated.
He also emphasized that “in The Hague, Donald Trump pressed Europeans to increase defense spending as a share of GDP.”
“The European Union also needs Donald Trump to press Europe to increase these defense budgets. Many European countries have still not raised these expenditures, which means we have a major problem concerning a sense of responsibility and our guarantees for the security of the European Union”, he pointed out.
The Greenland issue. President Nawrocki’s comment
The Polish president also addressed the issue of Greenland. He recalled that “Donald Trump tried to convince our European partners that they must unite, and that his voice is very important for financial, strategic, and geopolitical reasons.”
“Of course, I hope that this matter will be resolved diplomatically by all partners”, he declared.
In his view, “we should resolve this problem diplomatically.” “Of course, I naturally appreciate Denmark’s position; it is our partner. Denmark is our partner, but it also looks at Greenland as a strategic point and a geopolitical issue between the world of democracy, the free world, independence, and Russia”, he said.