FEATURED COMMENTARY & ANALYSIS

Poland’s Path to NATO

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

Poland’s Path to NATO

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

Poland’s Path to NATO

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.

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Content

New Atlanticist

Nov 13, 2009

Poland’s Path to NATO

By Adam Michnik

Adam Michnik looks at the revolutions that brought about the fall of communism.

Germany
NATO

New Atlanticist

Sep 18, 2009

Obama’s Missile Defense Decision: The View From Europe

By James Joyner

President Obama’s decision to abandon the missile defense systems in Poland and Czech Republic agreed to by his predecessor has created a firestorm of controversy, with quite different reactions in Russia, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, and domestically.

Missile Defense
Poland

New Atlanticist

Sep 17, 2009

Obama Abandons Poland and Czech Missile Defense

By James Joyner

President Obama this morning announced the cancellation of the long-range missile defense system based in Poland and the Czech Republic agreed to by his predecessor in favor of a system of  sensors and interceptors based at sea.

Poland

New Atlanticist

Jun 2, 2009

Poland’s Democracy at 20

By James Joyner

As the 20th anniversary of the Solidarity movement’s triumph approaches, Poland finds itself divided politically and unhappy with its current state of affairs.  That’s a good thing.

Poland

New Atlanticist

May 11, 2009

Europe Betrays Its Mission in Prague

By Borut Grgic

The much-anticipated Prague Summit between the European Union and our eastern partners was a flop. The eastern partnership declaration published last Thursday is not worth the paper it was printed on.

European Union
International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Feb 27, 2009

Poland Expects Worst on Missile Defense

By James Joyner

Warsaw seems resigned to the Obama administration reneging on an agreement signed by its predecessor to put a missile defense system in Poland.

Missile Defense
Poland

New Atlanticist

Jan 22, 2009

Europe Lauds Secret Prison Shutdown

By James Joyner

President Obama’s order to “shut secret CIA-run prisons abroad brought renewed calls for their locations to be disclosed as well a fresh denial from Poland, one of two eastern European countries most closely linked to the practice,”  Shawn Pogatchnik and Frank Jordans report for AP

Poland

New Atlanticist

Jan 8, 2009

Dell Moves Jobs From Ireland to Poland

By James Joyner

While the outsourcing of manufacturing jobs from high wage countries to lower wage countries is a longstanding phenomenon, we mostly think of it as one between the developed and developing worlds, not something that takes place within the EU.

Economy & Business
European Union

New Atlanticist

Dec 19, 2008

Poland Slashes Early Retirement Benefits

By James Joyner

Poland has drastically cut the number of workers eligible for early retirement, AP reports. Under current law, workers in some professions can retire and receive a state pension after only 15 years of employment.

Poland

Transcript

Nov 19, 2008

Transcript: Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski Talks to Council

By Peter Cassata

Full transcript of the November 19, 2008 event featuring Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski.

Missile Defense
Poland
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Experts

Fellow

Marek Magierowski

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Europe Center

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

Fellow

Joanna Siekiera

Nonresident Fellow

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Rule of Law Polish

Fellow

Jacek Siewiera

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Europe Center

Central Europe English

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

Danuta Hübner

Distinguished Fellow

Europe Center

Democratic Transitions Economy & Business
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