Highlights from this month's print and digital editions:

Newsmark

Poland’s GDP per capita will surpass Japan’s. The World Bank and International Monetary Fund expect Poland’s GDP per capita will overtake Japan’s in 2026.

 

Poland’s GDP per capita in 1990 was $12,810, according to the World Bank (adjusted for inflation and buying power). Japan’s $35,306 was almost three times higher. Japan’s was $45,949 and Poland’s was $43,585 in 2023, the latest year with data. That is over $30,000 per individual in one generation.

 

The IMF predicts 1% growth in 2025 and 2026 for Japan’s GDP, which contracted in 2024. Poland’s 2024 growth was nearly 3%, and 2025 and 2026 may be higher.

Economic expert Leszek Balcerowicz has been given credit for guiding Poland’s growth. The country fully supported free markets during its democratic transition.

 

Sign Friendship Treaty. France and Poland signed a new treaty of friendship and cooperation in the city of Nancy on May 9, replacing a 1991 accord described as outdated.

 

French President Emmanuel Macron called the agreement “historic.” He hosted Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Nancy on Europe Day to formalize the pact.

 

The choice of Nancy was symbolic: in 1736, exiled Polish King Stanisław Leszczyński became Duke of Lorraine there, forging early ties between the two nations.

 

The new treaty, long suggested to mark Poland’s six-month EU presidency, includes enhanced mutual security guarantees and closer defense cooperation. French diplomats dubbed the pact a “premium treaty,” noting it will be the first of its kind that France concludes with a non-neighboring country.

 

Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz made his first foreign visit to Paris on May 7, underscoring France’s strategy of consolidating leadership in Europe alongside its Polish and German partners.

 

Nuclear Power Contracts Signed. (Reuters) U.S. firms Westinghouse Electric and Bechtel signed a contract April 28 with Poland’s state-owned Polskie Elektrownie Jadrowe (PEJ) to continue designing the country’s first nuclear power plant, after an initial agreement expired at the end of March.

 

Poland is seeking to reduce its reliance on coal and chose Westinghouse in 2022 to build the plant on the Baltic Sea coast. Warsaw estimates the project’s cost at 192 billion zloty ($51 billion).

 

“I believe it’s the start of a long-term nuclear cooperation between the United States and Poland that will involve building future reactors, both here in Poland and with other nations across Europe,” U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said during the signing ceremony.

 

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that he and Wright discussed the future of small nuclear reactors and cooperation on liquefied natural gas (LNG). Poland relies on U.S. LNG to diversify its gas supplies.

 

Readying for Zapad Drills. Poland’s defense minister said his country will take measures in response to the Zapad-2025, military exercises being organized by Russia and Belarus for September.

 

Cezary Tomczyk told the RMF24 radio that both the Polish armed forces and NATO would respond to the upcoming exercises “in an adequate manner.”

 

“There will be extensive Polish and NATO drills, significant maneuvers taking place in Poland,” he said. “Let’s also remember that last year, we witnessed the largest NATO exercises in history, involving approximately 100,000 soldiers. NATO is stronger than Russia.”

 

The Belarusian-Russian Zapad exercises have been conducted every four years since 2009.

The most recent drills in 2021, involving over 200,000 troops, were the largest exercises in the western direction since the collapse of the Soviet Union and were later revealed as preparations for the invasion of Ukraine.

 

When asked if there were any “troubling signals” regarding this year’s exercises, Tomczyk replied that “signals concerning Russia and Belarus are always worrisome.”

 

Editorial

Poland’s Role as a Human Rights Leader

Significant Downturn in Perceptions of Polish–US Relations

 

Feature

Over 50 Years Later, Vinton’s “Melody of Love” Still Connects

 

Book Review

A Novel of Angels and Underdogs

and a new look at Napoleon's Polish mistress

 

Polka News

Wheeling Polka Festival Kicks off the Summer Season

 

If you are not a subscriber, here's what you are missing in this month's PAJ:

• A Solemn Reminder: “Nigdy Więcej”
• Poland Unveils Plan to Become a Major Military Power
• Silver Anniversary for National Katyń Memorial
• Walesa to Embark on North American Lecture Tour
• Deadline Reminder for PAJF’s 2025-2026 Kaszuba Scholarship
• Polonia, Poland, Celebrate Anniversaries
• Orchard Lake Schools to Maintain Catholic Distinctiveness
• Narrow Margin Points to Victory for Liberal Candidate
• Poland Will Not Send Peacekeepers to Ukraine
• Youngstown to Host Simply Slavic Festival, June 13-14
• Helicopter Violates Polish Airspace
• Putin celebrates “Bloody Palm Sunday” in Ukraine
• Lost Umbracalum Honors late Pope
• Poland Honored with US Army Award
• Jennifer Lopez heads for Warsaw this July
• Święte Gaje: Poland’s Sacred Forests
• Devils, Demons, and Fiends
• Holocaust, end of World War II are Topics of Upcoming Conferences
• Jewish Noble Laureates Highlighted
• Poland lauds and mourns Pope Francis
• Gietrzwałd’s Marian Apparitions: Inspiring Generations of Faith
• Faith and Heritage Once More Prove Miraculous
• Polish Genealogy Websites
• Countess Walewska’s Life in a New Novel by James C. Martin
• Polish Constitution Day Events
• Rare Black Wolves Caught on Camera
• Releases New PBS Special on Poland
• PACIM Office Relocated
• Wolownick Proves it’s Never too Late to Start
• Class of 2025 to Enter Hall of Fame
• One Gift after Another
• Kosciuszko Still Center of West Point
• Kosciuszko Foundation Centennial Celebrated
• Gala Honors Author, Philanthropists, and Congressman
• PAHA Notables
• Radzilowski Discuses Pioneers in Education
• Kornacki Takes New Role With NBC
• Testimonial Banquet Honors Skulimowski
• Meat Croquettes, and Wonderfully Delicious Key Cookies
• A Polish Heirloom Ground Cherry
• Obituaries: Hon. Ann T. Mikoll, Groundbreaking Judge and Community Leader; Krzysztof Arsenowicz, Media Personality; Community Activist, former Legislator
• Greg Olma; Jane Hauck, Longtime PSAA Jutrzenka Alto; Dolores Strand, Strengthened Ties with Columbia Heights and Łomianki, Poland
• History: Engineer, Politician, and Union Army Brigadier General Włodzimierz Krzyżanowski
• Frank Wojnarowski’s “General’s Son”
• Chwojdak Retires After 48 Years on the Air
• IPA Announces Hall Inductees and Music Award Winners
• Corporate Matching to the PAJ Foundation
• Wait ’til You See Those Bums
• ACPC To Meet in Buffalo, July 30-August 2

and more!