“This is generating enormous negative emotions and anxiety among soldiers and the officer corps. Soldiers and commanders of the Polish Armed Forces understand what the alliance with the United States means. If we looked into the biographies of Poland’s generals, we would see how many of them graduated from prestigious schools, courses, and training programs in the United States. To tell a Polish soldier or a Polish general that all of this is ‘pointless,’ that now there will be ‘European capabilities,’ then everyone – although a soldier cannot openly do so – will think it’s absurd,” said Prof. Sławomir Cenckiewicz, former head of the National Security Bureau.
In an interview with “Financial Times” over the weekend, “Donald Tusk, the head of the Polish government, questioned the ‘loyalty’ of Poland’s most important ally – the United States. At the same time, he called for ‘strengthening the EU’s mutual defense clause’”.
Today, Prof. Sławomir Cenckiewicz, former head of the National Security Bureau, was asked about Tusk’s remarks to the “FT” on TV Republika. He assessed that “every enemy of Poland would advise Tusk to make such a statement”.
“He knows perfectly well what European defense capabilities look like. They do not exist. They are not there and will not exist for a very long time. Some suggest that maybe in 30 years something might begin, but they do not exist. In a situation of threat, which he himself irresponsibly mentions again, speaking about ‘a few months’ that separate us from war, Tusk is offering us – while talking about the ‘end of NATO,’ questioning NATO’s ability to defend, Article 5, and criticizing the United States – a phone call from Macron to Putin in a situation where Poland is attacked. This is arson in the sphere of security – or simply dangerous,” Cenckiewicz pointed out in an interview with Michał Rachoń.
He emphasized that Tusk’s words come at a time when “all the capabilities we currently have are based on the United States – on its assistance, its capabilities, and the equipment we have purchased from them”.
“Saying now that all of this is passé and that there is some vaguely defined European capability to defend Poland is a completely irresponsible action, one that strikes at the very foundations of our security – especially when those Americans are present on Polish territory. Are we supposed to bring about a situation where they leave?” the former head of the National Security Bureau asked.
Asked about the motivations behind such actions by the ruling camp, Sławomir Cenckiewicz had no doubts that “they are doing this so that Poland becomes weaker and lacks defense capabilities.” “Why did someone choose such a line and become Poland’s prime minister? Someone once wrote – he is there and does it because he can,” he admitted.
Cenckiewicz added that this is “driving a wedge into an extraordinary success” – namely, the declaration made by Donald Trump during a meeting with Karol Nawrocki in the first months of his presidency.
“Trump’s declaration that he will not withdraw American soldiers and may even increase the contingent was made in the presence of journalists in the Oval Office. What was part of our closed-door discussions confirmed what President Trump said in the Oval Office in the presence of President Karol Nawrocki – and that is his achievement. The fact that even a figure whose views may raise some concerns, namely Deputy Secretary of Defense Elbridge Colby, recently referred to this during a discussion in Congress and stated that the American presence in Poland will not change, pointing out that this is the implementation of arrangements between Trump and Nawrocki – these are extremely important matters. Any government would embrace this as its own and try to nurture it, protect it, and develop it wherever possible. Instead, we have – on two fronts – a fight against America and a fight against Karol Nawrocki and his success for Poland,” he said.
Tusk’s anti-Trump stance used to turn public opinion against America
In the interview with Michał Rachoń, anti-American actions by Tusk’s government during his first term, within the framework of the reset policy with Russia, were also recalled.
“There is one difference – anti-Americanism during the reset with Russia, when it comes to Tusk and his team, was present. It manifested itself most strongly in a radical form and never took such an extreme shape as when Tusk and Sikorski opposed the Missile Defense Shield in Poland. (…) Back then, despite governing for seven years, Tusk was not able to reshape public sentiment toward the United States. Now they are doing it, and all published studies show that we are dealing with a kind of collapse in Poles’ attitudes toward Americans. Tusk’s anti-Trumpism has been used to make America itself repulsive,” said Prof. Cenckiewicz.
“This is generating enormous negative emotions and anxiety among soldiers and the officer corps. Soldiers and commanders of the Polish Armed Forces understand what the alliance with the United States means. If we looked into the biographies of Poland’s generals, we would see how many of them graduated from prestigious schools, courses, and training programs in the United States. To tell a Polish soldier or a Polish general that all of this is ‘pointless,’ that now there will be ‘European capabilities,’ then everyone – although a soldier cannot openly do so – will think it’s absurd,” he added.
