Wprost Special Issue

WPROST 35 YEARS SPECIAL ISSUE organized by: strategic partners: WWW.WPROST.PL The Honorary Patronage of the President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda over the #PALS conference on Feb 9th, 2018 February 8-11, 2018 2018 8-11, February POLISH-AMERICAN TIES THE SHAPE OF THE FUTURE Politics Poland – USA. A New Opening We are emerging as one of the key allies of USA and its main partner in Central-Eastern Europe. These relations are so far even immune to the Poland – Israel crisis. Anna Gwozdowska 2 FEBRUARY 8-11, 2018 „WPROST” STRATEGIC ALLIES American Secretary of State Rex Tillerson visited Warsaw at the end of January. In the picture: a meeting with Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki „WPROST” 3 Politics hen at the end of September charge him with suspicious connection to This was confirmed by Tillerson, who met 2016 Donald Trump – then Russia and even accuse him of a secret agree- in January in Warsaw with President Duda Wstill a republic candidate for ment with Vladimir Putin, who supposedly and Prime Minister Morawiecki and assured the president office – met with American helped him win the election, the American that US is opposed to Nord Stream 2, second Polish Diaspora in Chicago, probably no one president clearly strengthens NATO’s east line of gas pipeline connecting Russia with suspected that soon he will move into the flank and not only in the military sense. Germany. Previously, the topic of energetic White House. He made a great impression Not half a year after the inauguration, diversification was touched by President on the gathered. – I will never fail you – he he came to Warsaw, where he delivered the Trump in Davos, when he convinced that no said on leaving and asked to spread infor- most important speech in his presidency country should be made dependent on only mation about the meeting to the Poles in to the point, in which Poland’s history was one source of energy. – Americans are aware Ohio and Pennsylvania. As it later turned presented in an extraordinarily positive light. that Nord Stream and TurkStream [which is out, these were the states that decided As professor Pease convinces, who has been supposed to pump gas from Russia to Turkey about the most unpredictable victory in the invested in history of Polish-American rela- – Ed.] are projects of strictly political nature modern electoral history of USA. However tions for years, no American president has and that they will weaken Europe’s safety, the American establishment was not, to put it mildly, pleased with the outcome of the presidential elections, a new streak began for Polish- American relations and – as proved by the recent visit to Warsaw by the Secretary of State Rex Tillerson – it is a winning and a lasting one. – I have a feeling that an awareness of Poland’s importance has emerged in American politics and it is a new phenomenon - Neal H. Pease, a history professor on Wisconsin-Milwaukee University and an editor-in-chief for „The Polish Review”, convinces in an interview with “Wprost” weekly. – The current administration treats Russian threat very seriously, which is why Poland is perceived in America as a foundation of European defense, its buffer – he adds. DIVERSIFICATION Orzysz. President Andrzej Duda welcomes American soldiers Few years back, it would have sounded from NATO’s Multinational Battle Group improbable, but nowadays, in view of nu- merous American analysts, Poland emerges expressed himself about Poland in such a especially of our allies in Central-Eastern as a main player in Central-Eastern Europe manner. After all, Obama happened to use Europe – explains Daniel Kochis, an analyst and as one of USA’s the most significant the term “Polish concentration camps”, for the American think tank Heritage, in an allies. – That is why United States wish to during his laudation in honor of Jan Karski. interview with „Wprost” weekly. sell Poland weapons and share with us new Trump has also expressed support about So far the American pressure has turned technologies –Adriano Bosoni, an analyst for the Three Seas initiative, which aims at out to be ineffective. Nord Stream 2 has in- the American think tank Stratfor. strengthening nations of Central-Eastern formed last week that they have been granted President Obama’s administration took a Europe both politically and economically, permission for construction and exploitation rather different approach. It reacted slowly as well as given green light for exporting of the marine section of the gas pipeline on to threats coming from Russia and made American liquefied natural gas into Poland. German territorial waters. – I remain skepti- the mistake of resetting its relations with It did not end on words. The first ships cal whether Nord Stream will be held off but Moscow. Everybody in Poland remembers with American gas have already reached United States will remain opposed – Kochis the day, when president Obama nullified the Świnoujście and, although – as explained comments newest information. project of creating an anti-ballistic shield for by Adriano Bosoni from Stratfor – the real Construction of the Russian-German Poland and Czech Republic, exactly on the sale price will eventually be set by producers, gas pipeline is also opposed by the Con- anniversary of Soviet aggression on Poland. who will opt for the best market option, the gress, which plays a major role in shaping The White House woke up only when Rus- current American administration clearly American policies. Trump and the Congress sian troops invaded Crimea. Meanwhile, cares about diversification of the energy don’t see eye to eye on everything. So far, although Trump’s political adversaries market in Poland. the president has managed to agree with IWAŃCZUK/REPORTER ANDRZEJ NEWS, WIŚNIEWSKI/EAST PAWEŁ PHOTOS: 4 FEBRUARY 8-11, 2018 „WPROST” STRATEGIC ALLIES REDZIKOWO The Ballistic congressmen only in terms of the tax reform, Missile Defense The presence Americans accepted at the end of 2017. The President installation of American will be activated treat the and the Congress differ – at least in view of this year troops in Poland: the liberal media – in the matter of sanc- SKWIERZYNA 4 thousand Russian tions imposed on Russia. The senators soldiers stand strongly behind them, while Trump POWIDZ threat very ŻAGAŃ POZNAŃ 3rd Armored apparently remains ambivalent. Brigade Combat Tea m seriously ŚWIĘTOSZÓW DETERRING RUSSIA Task Force for the and perceive Sanctions are but one element of the BOLESŁAWIEC Battle Aviation Brigade political puzzle piece, which is supposed Poland as Mission Command to convince Russia that it’s not worth to Element of the a foundation mess with NATO. This year, in the face of Atlantic Resolve the Russian threat, the White House has operation of European gained Congress’s approval to spend almost 5 billion dollars (1,4 billion dollars more than defense. previous year) for the so-called European Deterrence Initiative (Eng. European Deter- Of course, it is not without importance Can the crisis in relations with Is- rence Initiative, during Obama’s presidency for the current enclosing relations between rael actually jeopardize our connection known as European Reassurance Initiative), Warsaw and Washington that Polish and to America? The answer coming from which aims at supporting Europe’s defense American governments have a lot in com- commentators is unanimous: because capabilities, especially its Eastern flank. mon: both emphasize the role of patrio- Polish-American alliance is based on a This means that there will be funds for tism, protection of national interests and similar approach to security matters and allocating American troops in Poland, on traditional values. – I think, that the current American soldiers station in Poland, it which the Polish government counts very administration also shares with Polish is safe from harm. – Quite the contrary, much. government a rather skeptical approach to during Trump’s presidency these relations At the moment, over 4 thousand Ameri- the European Union – Daniel Kochis adds. will become even stronger – claims Daniel can troops are stationing in Poland, among One more matter brings both administra- Kochis. which are 3.5 thousand from the 3rd Ar- tions together. Both Trump and Law and The critique in American media, such as mored Brigade Combat Team, whose troops Justice (PiS) have to ward off media attacks. „Washington Post” or „New York Times”, in station in Żagań, Świętoszowo, Skwierzyna That is why a good rapport with the White which a lot is written about authoritarian and Bolesławiec. In Powidz stations also a House is a gift for the Polish government, and nationalist government in Warsaw, task force for Battle Aviation Brigade. The whose image was lately tarnished by frictions also hasn’t caused any irreversible dam- Americans decided to move the so-called with Brussels and Berlin, as well as by the age. In Kochis’ opinion the bad press could Mission Command Element of the Atlantic recent crisis with Israel. During his visit, Til- permanently worsen our image only if the Resolve operation, which commands Ameri- lerson has given Warsaw his strong support. media offensive would go on and accusa- can troops in Poland and other countries in He referred to Poland as a glorious, demo- tions against us start to become buried the region, from Germany into Poznań. This cratic ally. – In comparison with Obama’s in America’s mind. – Which has not yet year, an American BMD (Ballistic Missile presidency, Trump’s administration seems happened – Kochis convinces. And adds: Defense) installation will be activated in little interested in internal affairs of countries - Since the moment, Matuesz Morawiecki Redzików, which will provide NATO with within Central Europe – says Bosoni. – The became the prime minister, I have noticed defense against ballistic missiles.

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