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 border crisis marks dangerous escalation in Putin’s hybrid war

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 border crisis marks dangerous escalation in Putin’s hybrid war

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 border crisis marks dangerous escalation in Putin’s hybrid war

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

Nov 14, 2021

Belarus border crisis marks dangerous escalation in Putin’s hybrid war

By Oleksiy Goncharenko

As tensions on the EU border with Belarus escalate, Europe is waking up to the fact that the man responsible for the crisis is not Belarusian dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka but his patron Vladimir Putin.

Belarus Conflict

In the News

Nov 12, 2021

Bryza joins TRT world to discuss Belarus sending refugees to its border with Poland
Belarus Poland

BelarusAlert

Nov 10, 2021

Gangster tactics: Poland accuses Putin of masterminding Belarus border crisis

By Brian Whitmore

As the crisis on the EU's eastern border with Belarus continues to escalate, Polish PM Mateusz Morawiecki has accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of masterminding the plot to weaponize illegal migrants.

Belarus Conflict

BelarusAlert

Nov 9, 2021

Belarus border crisis: Lukashenka weaponizes human misery

By Daniel Fried, Michal Baranowski, Ben Judah

Kremlin-backed Belarus dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka has weaponized migrants from across the Middle East and is using them to create a border crisis in his escalating hybrid war against the EU.

Belarus Conflict

New Atlanticist

Aug 12, 2021

Experts react: How far will Poland push away its friends?

By Atlantic Council

Poland's move against a critical television network fits into a pattern of criticized behavior by a one-time showcase of post-communist recovery.

Central Europe Democratic Transitions

In the News

Jul 20, 2021

Binnendijk in Notes from Poland: Purchase of US Abrams tanks strengthens Poland and NATO against Russia

By Hans Binnendijk

Hans Binnendijk explains the importance of Poland's purchase of M1A2 Abrams tanks from the United States in shoring up Warsaw's military capabilities on NATO's eastern flank.

Central Europe Defense Policy

Issue Brief

Jul 16, 2021

Poland and the United States: What’s right, what’s not, and what’s next

By Daniel Fried, Jakub Wiśniewski

Around the time of President Joe Biden’s first trip to Europe in June 2021, US-Polish relations experienced a short, but intense, rough patch. Both the United States and Poland need to look hard at what this relationship can do for both countries and for the transatlantic relationship, and at the sources of problems.

Europe & Eurasia Poland

BelarusAlert

Jun 30, 2021

Belarus dictator weaponizes illegal migrants against EU

By Brian Whitmore

Kremlin-backed Belarus dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka has recently begun weaponizing migrants in his escalating confrontation with the European Union and neighboring countries Poland, Latvia, and Lithuania.

Belarus Migration

The Three Seas Initiative

May 6, 2021

Polish Prime Minister Morawiecki on the COVID comeback, the Three Seas Initiative, and where the US is falling short

By Atlantic Council

The Polish leader joined the Atlantic Council's EU-US Future Forum to discuss ways to improve the transatlantic relationship, and the challenges and opportunities in Central Europe.

Coronavirus Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

Nov 23, 2020

Building bridges across the Three Seas

By Piotr Trabinski, Daniel Palotai, Liviu Voinea, Tsvetan Manchev, and Nils Vaikla

The CESEE countries would be justified by gradually moving away from indiscriminate policy support to better targeted strategic policy resource allocation and growth-enhancing infrastructure projects.

Central Europe Eastern Europe
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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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