This month's editorial

EDITORIAL

The Dangerous Implications of

U.S. Foreign Policy for Polish Security

Editor's note: The following article has been published under the Polish American Journal Forum, which allows readers to express their thoughts on current issues. The views and opinions expressed in the Forum are solely those of the individual contributors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the newspaper or its publisher. We do not endorse or take responsibility for any content shared by our followers or third-party users.

by Joshua Skrzypczak

Imperialistic Russian expansions have not boded well for Poland and its neighbors over the centuries. Putin’s recent expansion into Crimea and now into Ukraine have displaced about 4 million Ukrainians into Poland for humanitarian relief. Donald Trump has signaled a desire to broker an abrupt end to the war, almost as if it were a real estate deal. This is alarming for Ukrainians and Poles alike. Recent polling in Poland by the SW Research for Rzeczpospolita news outlet reveals a sobering reality: 43.5% of Poles feel their country would be less safe under the leadership of a second President Trump term. These fears are not unreasonable. Poland, historically threatened by an aggressive Russia, faces heightened security risks from a Donald Trump foreign policy, or lack thereof.

Trump’s foreign policy is characterized by outlandish statements encouraging Russia to do “whatever the hell they want” to any NATO member country that does not meet guidelines on defense expenditures and stating he would not abide by the collective-defense clause at the heart of the alliance when in office. His undermining of long-standing alliances like NATO and his suspicious historical ties with Russia could spell a security threat for Poland.

Trump’s connections to Russia are particularly troubling; from financial dealings that relied heavily on Russian sources for capital during his business downturns to the 2016 presidential campaign with signs of Russian interference. Trump’s entanglements with the Kremlin raise questions about his ability and willingness to counter Russian aggression.

His 2016 campaign manager, Paul Manafort, collaborated with a Russian intelligence officer, Konstantin Kilimnik, to dig up dirt on the Democratic Party, according to the report done by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. In 2020, it said that Manafort “created opportunities for Russian intelligence services to exert influence over” the Trump campaign, creating opportunities for foreign influence over U.S. democratic processes. These connections erode trust in America’s leadership and send dangerous signals to Vladimir Putin, who could view a second Trump presidency as a green light for imperialistic ventures in Eastern Europe beyond Ukraine.

For Poland and other European nations, NATO is an essential cornerstone of security against Russian aggression. Trump’s unpredictable approach to alliances threatens this stability. His references to not defend NATO members, coupled with his dismissal of Ukraine’s aspirations for NATO membership, weakens the collective Western resolve. If Trump signals disinterest in countering Russia, the implications for Poland and Eastern Europe are alarming. An isolationist foreign policy, not seen in this country since the 1920s, emboldens Russian expansionism, diminishes U.S. credibility, and increases reliance on regional powers in Europe like Germany to fill the void of American leadership.

Poland’s security rests on a consistent and clear U.S. foreign policy, something notably absent during Trump’s presidency. Donald Trump tends to use instincts rather than policy advisors in what appears as decisions based on his personal relationships. In an interview with NPR in 2017, Zbigniew Brzezinski, a renowned Polish American foreign policy strategist and former National Security Advisor to Jimmy Carter, stated that effective international leadership requires vision and collaboration with allies. However, Trump’s lack of a strategic foreign policy direction and his isolationist “America First” doctrine undermines these principles as his “handling of foreign affairs is chaotic, unclear, [and] unfocused,” then, as it is now. His speeches lack substantive policy direction outlining the needed long-term steps to avoid consequences or dangers from failed foreign policy. In fair balance regarding Trump’s foreign policy engagements in his first term in office, there were the following events: removal of the U.S. from the Paris Climate Change Accords, threatening to “totally destroy” North Korea in his first U.N. General Assembly speech, moving forward unilaterally with a Middle East peace plan that was fundamentally exclusionary of Palestinian leaders, and starting the U.S.-China trade war. Trump’s proposed tariffs alone have historically not been a substitute nor a cornerstone of international policy.

Without a strategic plan to include a robust U.S. commitment to counter Russian aggression and uphold NATO obligations, Poland and other Eastern European nations face greater vulnerability.

As Trump returns to power and pursues an autocratic style of presidency, Poland’s concerns may materialize. A chaotic and Kremlin-friendly U.S. foreign policy could result in a weakened NATO and leave Poland vulnerable. Poland is already taking matters into their own hands by bumping their defense budget, doubling their minimum commitment as a NATO member. “The Economist” reports that Poland is set to create the largest army in Europe. This moment in the U.S.-European Alliance calls for steadfast American leadership, not one plagued by foreign entanglements and strategic disarray. For Poland and for the world, U.S. foreign policy must prioritize the integrity of alliances and the defense of democracy in a prudent and strategic framework, not one that is reactionary or capricious.

The democratic world relies on a strong projection of America’s capacity lest we lose U.S. leadership and confidence abroad with our existing allies and those within emerging, strategic geopolitical zones. The latter includes those in Africa with vast strategic metal and mineral resources used in chip and defense equipment manufacturing which are so vital in protecting our interests here.

Joshua Skrzypczak is a UCLA undergraduate focusing on public affairs and history and freelance writer. He resides in Pleasanton, Calif. He is a member of the Polish National Alliance, the American Institute of Polish Culture, and the Kościuszko Society.