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

Tantardini in Longitude on Central and Eastern European involvement in space

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
Tantardini in Longitude on Central and Eastern European involvement in space

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
Tantardini in Longitude on Central and Eastern European involvement in space

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
explore the warsaw office

Content

In the News

May 5, 2023

Tantardini in Longitude on Central and Eastern European involvement in space

By Atlantic Council

Marco Tantardini discusses the role of Eastern Europe in the space activities of the EU.

Eastern Europe Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

May 5, 2023

Poland makes its case for European leadership

By Daniel Fried, Aaron Korewa

A close read of Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau's comprehensive foreign policy statement reveals a country that stands on the side of freedom, even as it faces difficulties with European partners.

Central Europe Elections

New Atlanticist

Apr 14, 2023

Poland’s prime minister: Western Europe needs to commit to Ukrainian victory and beware of China

By Katherine Golden

The prime minister explained that the US-Poland bond is key to strengthening the transatlantic community's deterrent power.

Central Europe China

UkraineAlert

Apr 12, 2023

Poland and Ukraine: The emerging alliance that could reshape Europe

By Taras Kuzio

Poland's leading role in the European response to Russia's Ukraine invasion is fueling talk of a eastward shift in Europe's geopolitical center of gravity with the Polish-Ukrainian alliance set to become increasingly influential.

Conflict Defense Industry
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko attend a meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State of Russia and Belarus at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia April 6, 2023. Sputnik/Mikhail Klimentyev/Kremlin via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

New Atlanticist

Apr 7, 2023

Russian War Report: Belarus accuses Ukraine of plotting terrorist attack

By Digital Forensic Research Lab

Belarus' KGB accused Ukraine of plotting an attack on a Russian consulate in the Belarusian city of Grodno. Belarus also confirmed it would accept Russian tactical nuclear weapons.

Belarus Conflict

Econographics

Mar 20, 2023

The US debt limit is a global outlier

By Mrugank Bhusari

Debt limits are not the norm in public finance. But countries that have adopted them do not let them cause economic chaos.

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

UkraineAlert

Mar 16, 2023

Poland defies Putin with landmark decision to give Ukraine fighter jets

By Peter Dickinson

Poland is set to become the first Western nation to supply Ukraine with fighter jets, Polish President Andrzej Duda has confirmed. Duda said Ukraine would receive four Polish Soviet-era MiG-29 jets “in the next few days.”

Conflict Missile Defense

In the News

Mar 9, 2023

Former secretaries Mark Esper and Deborah Lee James publish op-ed in The Hill

By Atlantic Council

Former Secretaries Mark Esper and Deborah Lee James publish Op-Ed on accelerating DoD adoption of commercial tech.

Defense Industry Defense Policy

Atlantic Debrief

Feb 23, 2023

#AtlanticDebrief – What’s the state of Polish leadership on Ukraine? | A Debrief with Wojciech Konończuk

Aaron Korewa sits down with Wojciech Konończuk, Director of the Centre for Eastern Studies, to discuss Poland’s leadership in Europe on support for Ukraine one year since Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Europe & Eurasia NATO
Bohdan, 'Fritz', the unit commander's deputy in the 79th Air Assault Brigade, fires a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) towards Russian positions on a front line near the town of Marinka, in the middle of the Russia attack on Ukraine, Donetsk region, Ukraine, February 14, 2023. REUTERS/Marko Djurica

New Atlanticist

Feb 17, 2023

Russian War Report: Failed Russian push on Vuhledar results in losses as Moscow increases troops

By Digital Forensic Research Lab

Vuhledar, a town connecting the northern and southern flanks, has been under an unsuccessful attack from Russian forces for two weeks.

Conflict Corruption
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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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