Over a year into Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine, Poland has shown continuous leadership in providing weapon deliveries and aid to refugees, and in championing Ukraine’s cause on the international stage. These efforts, combined with its planned increase of defense spending to 4 percent of gross domestic product and hosting of a new permanent US military base alongside an arms and weapons depot, have made Poland a linchpin of regional security. Warsaw now has an opportunity to help shape the transatlantic agenda beyond the war, including on global challenges such as China’s increasingly authoritarian actions, climate change, economic resilience, and the rapid growth of new technologies, all of which call for increased US and European leadership.

This panel aims to answer what should be the next steps of the US-Polish partnership. How can Poland and the United States best work to secure a Ukrainian victory against Russia? What role does Poland want to play in Europe’s future? And how can it live up to its full potential as a key voice in the European Union and NATO for security and prosperity?

Featuring
The Hon. Mark Brzezinski, US Ambassador to the Republic of Poland

Dr. Sławomir Dębski, Director, Polish Institute of International Affairs

Amb. Paula Dobriansky, Vice Chair, Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, Atlantic Council; Former Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs; Senior Fellow, Future of Diplomacy Project, Harvard University Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs

Amb. Daniel Fried, Weiser Family Distinguished Fellow, Atlantic Council; Former US Ambassador to the Republic of Poland

Amb. John Herbst, Senior Director, Eurasia Center, Atlantic Council; Former US Ambassador to Ukraine

Mr. Wojciech Konończuk, Director, Center for Eastern Studies

Mr. Aaron Korewa, Director, Warsaw Office, Europe Center, Atlantic Council

Mr. Marcin Przydacz, Secretary of State, Office of International Policy, Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland

The Three Seas Initiative has enormous potential to foster the kind of economic growth that will create a backbone for European resilience and fulfill the vision of a Europe whole, free, secure, at peace—and complete. Such a “completed Europe” can better face the challenges posed from hostile outside actors.

This event aims to help develop a Three Seas agenda ahead of the upcoming Summit and Business Forum in Bucharest in the fall. Does the Initiative currently focus on the right kinds of projects? What should its priorities be? How do we secure reliable flows of investment? What will best elevate the Three Seas Initiative: great global awareness efforts? Or is it time for structural change in the form of a permanent secretariat? And what is the role of the Three Seas Initiative in the current and future reconstruction of Ukraine?

Featuring

Mr. George Agafitei, State Counsellor, Government of Romania

Mr. Ian Brzezinski, Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council

Ms. Beata Daszyńska-Muzyczka, President of the Management Board, Polish Development Bank BGK

Mr. Maciej Kubicki, Director, Three Seas Secretariat, Office of the President of the Republic of Poland

Amb. Georgette Mosbacher, Co-Chair of Three Seas Programming, Europe Center, Atlantic Council; Former US Ambassador to the Republic of Poland

H.E. Gediminas Varvuolis, Ambassador at Large for Connectivity and the Three Seas Initiative of the Republic of Lithuania