Poland

Poland

Poland is a major actor within NATO and the European Union, a growing economic powerhouse, and an influential regional forerunner. It has shown leadership in shaping the transatlantic response to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and acted as a haven for millions of refugees. These efforts, combined with a planned increase in defense spending, have made it a security provider and an important US ally in Central and Eastern Europe. With the continued rise of populism, the United States needs to continue investing in this relationship.

FEATURED COMMENTARY & ANALYSIS

Belarus joins Putin’s new Russian empire

New Atlanticist Nov 26, 2025

Poland doesn’t have to choose between defense spending and growth—if it makes the right reforms

By Jenna Ben-Yehuda and Jacek Siewiera

Polish defense-tech talent is real, but government structures are misaligned to the moment and impede innovation and economic growth.
Defense Industry Defense Policy
Belarus joins Putin’s new Russian empire

New Atlanticist Nov 20, 2025

Russia’s shadow war: How the Kremlin uses sabotage to wear down Europe

By Piotr Arak

Moscow’s goal is not just to damage infrastructure but also to sow distrust inside Western societies.
Europe & Eurasia NATO
Belarus joins Putin’s new Russian empire

Report Nov 10, 2025

Poland’s policy on China: From partnership to skepticism

By Zoltán Fehér

Despite its traditionally transatlantic orientation, Poland pursued an engagement policy toward China until the late 2010s. However, unmet economic promises and Beijing’s alignment with Moscow following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine shifted Warsaw’s view of China from economic partner to systemic challenger.
China Economy & Business

Featured Event

Online Event Wed, June 4, 2025 • 9:00 pm ET

Warsaw Week 2025

At this year’s Warsaw Week—the Europe Center’s annual flagship conference—experts and officials gather in Poland to highlight the importance of relations between the United States and Europe.

Central Europe Eastern Europe Europe & Eurasia NATO
Online Event Mon, February 26, 2024 • 2:30 am ET

A conversation with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland Radosław Sikorski

Minister Sikorski joins the Atlantic Council to discuss the new Polish government’s priorities and vision for Polish foreign policy and transatlantic relations.
Central Europe Europe & Eurasia Poland Politics & Diplomacy

Program

The Europe Center promotes the transatlantic leadership and strategies required to ensure a strong Europe.

EXPLORE THE PROGRAM
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Content

BelarusAlert

Feb 23, 2022

Belarus joins Putin’s new Russian empire

By Brian Whitmore

Vladimir Putin appears to have succeeded in the unofficial annexation of neighboring Belarus with news that Russian troops deployed ostensibly for military exercises will now remain in the country indefinitely.

Belarus Conflict

BelarusAlert

Feb 16, 2022

NATO allies fear Putin’s Belarus military build-up will be permanent

By Brian Whitmore

At the moment all eyes are on the Ukrainian border. But regardless of how Vladimir Putin's manufactured crisis in Ukraine ends, the threat to NATO's eastern flank from Russia's growing military presence in Belarus will remain.

Belarus Conflict

UkraineAlert

Feb 3, 2022

Vladimir Putin’s Ukraine playbook echoes the traditional tactics of Russian imperialism

By Łukasz Adamski

Putin's hybrid war against Ukraine has been portrayed as innovative but Moscow’s approach also echoes more traditional tactics from the golden age of Russian imperialism and the era of Soviet expansionism.

Conflict Disinformation

UkraineAlert

Jan 25, 2022

Survey: Western public backs stronger support for Ukraine against Russia

By Carl Bildt, Aleksander Kwasniewski, Victor Pinchuk, Anders Fogh Rasmussen

A recent six-country opinion survey commissioned by the Yalta European Strategy and Victor Pinchuk Foundation has identified strong Western public backing for an assertive policy in support of Ukraine.

Conflict Democratic Transitions

New Atlanticist

Jan 25, 2022

Russian Hybrid Threats Report: A push to recognize Ukrainian regions as independent states

By the Digital Forensic Research Lab

Amid a legislative push to recognize the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent states, Russia is spinning narratives of NATO aggression and continuing to mass troops and materiel near Ukraine.

Belarus Cybersecurity

New Atlanticist

Nov 29, 2021

NATO thwarted a Russian invasion in 1980. Could its playbook work today?

By Ian Brzezinski

As NATO foreign ministers meet this week in Riga, Latvia, they should consider how President Jimmy Carter blocked the Soviets from crushing Poland’s Solidarity movement.

Conflict Crisis Management

BelarusAlert

Nov 17, 2021

Belarus border crisis: Putin acts as Lukashenka’s willing enabler

By Brian Whitmore

Belarus dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka's manufactured migrant crisis on the EU border is entirely in step with the hybrid war against the Western world being waged by his sole international patron, Vladimir Putin.

Belarus Conflict

Event Recap

Nov 16, 2021

Webinar: The Russian Federation- Challenges and Trends Impacting Central and Northern European Security

The Embassy of the Republic of Poland and the Embassy of the United Kingdom in Stockholm, together with the Atlantic Council Northern Europe Office, organised a timely webinar on November 16th. Taking place as the border crises between Poland and Belarus escalated, the webinar’s main goal was to discuss the security outlook for Central and […]

Belarus Central Europe

UkraineAlert

Nov 15, 2021

Escalating Belarus border crisis could pose a security threat to Ukraine

By Bohdan Nahaylo

The escalating migrant crisis on the Polish-Belarusian border poses a potential threat to Ukraine, which shares a long and vulnerable 1,000 km border with Belarus and could serve as an alternative route into the EU.

Belarus Conflict

BelarusAlert

Nov 15, 2021

Belarus dictator turns hybrid war into humanitarian crisis

By Alesia Rudnik

By weaponizing migrants in his hybrid war against the European Union, Belarus dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka has created an escalating humanitarian crisis on his country's border with Poland.

Belarus European Union
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Experts

Fellow

Piotr Arak

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Europe Center

Central Europe Economy & Business

Active affiliation

Olena Babakova

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Europe Center

Central Europe Europe & Eurasia

Fellow

Ian Brzezinski

Senior Fellow

Europe Center Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Central Europe Defense Policy

Staff

Denise Forsthuber

Deputy Director, Strategic Engagement and Operations

Europe Center Transform Europe Initiative

Central Europe Eastern Europe

Fellow

Daniel Fried

Weiser Family Distinguished Fellow

Economic Statecraft Initiative Eurasia Center

Eastern Europe Democratic Transitions
Givi Gigitashvili

Staff

Givi Gigitashvili

Research Associate, Caucasus

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Conflict Disinformation
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