From May 18 to May 21, the Atlantic Council’s Warsaw Office will host Warsaw Week 2026. This year’s theme is “Poland’s strategic moment: Powering Europe and anchoring the transatlantic bond.”
Warsaw Week is the Europe Center’s annual flagship conference with a full week of public and private engagements that aim to highlight the importance of relations between the United States and Europe, with an emphasis on the Polish perspective. As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, Europe continues to face the largest war on the continent since 1945, intensifying systemic rivalry between the great powers, and growing uncertainty about the trajectory of US global leadership.
In this context, Poland has moved from the periphery to the geopolitical core of the transatlantic alliance. No longer simply a frontline state, Poland is now a central actor in the European policy debate. Can Poland drive the construction of a stronger, more sovereign European defense capacity without accelerating strategic drift across the Atlantic? Can it ensure that European ambition reinforces NATO rather than competes with it? How can it contribute most effectively to the reinforcement of the transatlantic relationship?
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Speakers
Some of these speakers will be featured at our private events.
Agenda
May 19 from 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. ET | European strength and transatlantic ties: Shaping the next chapter
Description: As the United States marks its 250th anniversary, this discussion will highlight the enduring strength and strategic importance of the transatlantic alliance at a pivotal moment for global security. Against the backdrop of an evolving European security landscape, Poland is emerging as a key political, economic, and military actor within the Euro-Atlantic community. With rising defense investment, steadfast support for Ukraine, and a central geographic position, Warsaw is well placed to help lead a stronger, more capable Europe. The conversation will explore how Poland can drive European security and defense efforts while reinforcing the transatlantic bond, demonstrating that a stronger Europe and a more assertive America remain mutually reinforcing pillars of stability and security.
Speakers
Jill Dougherty, PhD, Adjunct Professor, Center for Eurasian, Russian and East European Studies, Georgetown University
Carrie Filipetti, Executive Director, Vandenberg Coalition; Former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Cuba and Venezuela; Former Deputy Special Representative for Venezuela
Łukasz Pawłowski, PhD, Deputy Director, Department of Strategy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland
Moderated by
Amb. Marek Magierowski, Nonresident Senior Fellow, Europe Center, Atlantic Council; Former Polish Ambassador to the United States
May 20 from 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. ET | Poland and Ukraine: A strategic economic partnership for security
Description: While Poland’s political and military support for Ukraine remains strong, deeper cooperation between the two countries is still constrained by limited societal engagement and historical sensitivities. This panel will examine how industrial cooperation, particularly in the defense sector, can strengthen not only security but also mutual understanding between Polish and Ukrainian societies. This discussion will focus on opportunities for expanding collaboration in defense manufacturing, joint research and development, technology transfer, and supply chain integration. The conversation will also explore how scalable joint ventures and co-production initiatives can enhance military capabilities, improve interoperability, and contribute to long-term regional security and trust between the two nations.
Speakers
Maciej Samsonowicz, Chief Adviser to the Minister of National Defense of Poland, Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of Poland
Mustafa Nayyem, Former Deputy Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine
Peter Huntley, Chief Executive Officer, White Star Real Estate
Col. Lech Wojciechowski, Co-Founder, Frontline Foundation; Former Adviser to the Head of the Polish National Security Bureau
Moderated by
Olena Babakova, PhD, Nonresident Senior Fellow, Europe Center, Atlantic Council
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