At a Friday press conference, President Karol Nawrocki announced that during his conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump, the issue of responsibility for the Baltic states up to Poland’s eastern border was raised. He emphasized that the discussion took place in a context where Poland was recognized as the leader of this region.
The Financial Times had earlier reported that the United States intended to cut security funding for European countries that would find themselves on the front line of a potential conflict with Russia, including Romania, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. Poland was not listed among the countries affected by the cuts.
A White House official later explained that the decision to reduce funding for strengthening NATO’s eastern flank had been coordinated with European allies and aligned with President Trump’s insistence that Europe take greater responsibility for its own defense.
Poland as a Regional Leader
Asked at Friday’s press conference whether Donald Trump had informed him about plans concerning the Baltic states and cuts in support for NATO’s eastern flank, President Nawrocki replied that he had spoken primarily about bilateral, Polish-American issues.
“As you know, I spoke about Poland’s borders and the presence of American soldiers in Poland, but there were also topics related, of course, to the Baltic states and responsibility for the Baltic states as well as for our eastern border,” the president said.
He noted that before his trip to the United States, he had met with the presidents of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, and that the issues he raised with President Trump related to Poland’s role as the leader of the region.
“It is not in the interest of the Baltic states to reduce the number of American troops. Although I spoke with a Polish voice, I feel that Poland is also a leader in Central and Eastern Europe, and so in the role of leader of this region I spoke with the president,” Nawrocki stressed.