Karol Nawrocki's first visit as president of the Republic of Poland to the USA was considered successful. Through the Law and the President's very surroundings enthusiastically, which is understandable, but besides by most media, including those reluctant to him.
This temper reflects the title of information on the website wpolityka.pl: “A successful visit by president Nawrocki to the US. Donald Trump made an crucial declaration for Poland." Government or pro-government media were already more restrained, but the emphasis was on the issues of the dispute between the President's Chancellery and the MFA: “President Nawrocki's visit to the United States. Many unknowns, everything changes like in kaleidoscope" (journalist.pl) or: "The visit of Karol Nawrocki in Washington, D.C. takes place in the shadow of political conflict in Poland" (Bloomberg).
What, in my opinion, was the “success” of this visit? On the fact that, first of all, Nawrocki did not have an accident, he did not teach Donald Trump how to deal with Russia, he no longer called Vladimir Putin "the criminal", but he simply reserved that "there is no trust in him." For the Nawrock camp, however, the success is to be Trump's declaration that he will not retreat his soldiers from Poland and, if necessary, send more. This was considered an epic event. Around the same day, the US reported that they were full withdrawing the Baltic defence funding. Poland was not mentioned. So it seems that for Americans Poland is an exception. For a simple reason – we are the country that has declared to be the only country to usage 5% of GDP for reinforcements, which is very pleased with Trump, due to the fact that the bulk of these funds will go (or have gone) on purchases of American equipment. He most likely doesn't take Polish fears of Russia seriously, he even thinks it's stupid, but if this fear results in specified immense Polish transfers to the account of American companies – that's very good. Let them be afraid, they'll buy without murmuring.
When Poland became a hostage to its own phobias and neuroses, it was very easy to convince itself that only America would defend us against Russia's "inevitable" aggression. This in turn makes us close our own options, as Hungary or Slovakia do. Although much smaller than Poland, these 2 countries retained a much greater margin of sovereignty. We, in turn, satisfied ourselves with the function of the vassal, according to the dogma, that safety has no price, besides this impreciable 1 – that is, the preservation of specified dignity.
Our economical relations with the US are inactive tiny compared to another countries. The most crucial trading partner of Poland remains Germany, liable for almost 27% of the full exports. The second place was taken by the Czech Republic with the consequence of PLN 23.3 billion, which represents 6.2% of Polish exports, and 3rd place was taken by France with an export value of PLN 22.7 billion with a 6.0% share. Trade exchange with the US has increased, but is unilateral, and this trend will only increase. As it seems, the only affirmative thing about this situation is that the Americans will not let us do anything stupid in the Interior, which many Polish politicians would like to do.
Jan Engelgard
photo of The White home (X)
Think Poland, No. 37-38 (17-24.09.2025)
