This month's news highlights

Newsmark

Poland Buys ex-university Building for its New Embassy

Poland has purchased a former building of John Hopkins University, located on Massachusetts Avenue in Washington, D.C. in a prestigious area near the White House, the U.S. State Department and Capitol Hill. The real estate was acquired for slightly over $20 million to serve as Poland’s new embassy.

The multi-story structure had previously housed the university’s Political Science Department. It will now undergo a four-year renovation to adapt it for diplomatic use. It will house the embassy, consulate, and military attaché offices, consolidating operations that were previously scattered across the city. This move is seen as a major step in strengthening Poland’s diplomatic presence in the United States and represents a significant investment in future bilateral relations.

Diplomats Awarded Congressional Medals

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In December, U.S. President Joe Biden awarded a group of Polish diplomats the Forgotten Heroes of the Holocaust Congressional Gold Medal for aiding Jews during World War II. The Bern-based group of diplomats is credited with producing hundreds of fake passports to help save Jews from the Holocaust.

Biden recognizing 60 diplomats from 28 countries, including five from Poland, for their efforts to rescue Jews from Nazi persecution during the Holocaust.

The Polish honorees include Aleksander Ładoś, who led the group, and members, Konstanty Rokicki, Stefan Ryniewicz, and Juliusz Kuhl. Also honored was Henryk Sławik, who is credited with helping save around 5,000 Polish Jews in Hungary.

The Congressional Gold Medal, one of the highest civilian honors in the United States, was award for defying the “systemic hatred by bravely doing what was right to stand up for not only the Jewish community, but of all mankind,” said the Polish foreign ministry.

Introduces Mandatory Firearms Training for Children

WARSAW — Poland has implemented mandatory firearms training for schoolchildren aged 14-16, amidst concerns over potential Russian aggression. The “Education for Safety” program will teach students firearms handling, state security education, survival skills, tactical rescue, first aid, and cybersecurity. The training will be conducted in gymnasiums using laser-based technology, ensuring safety. The program is set to be rolled out across all 18,000 schools nationwide, aiming to teach students how to deal with warfare threats and tactical rescue.

Back Trump Plan — with Timeframe

WARSAW — Poland supports Donald Trump’s call for NATO countries to allocate 5% of their GDP to defense, despite mixed reactions among Europe’s governments. Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz believes Warsaw can serve as a transatlantic link between Europe and the U.S. president’s ambitious goal. The proposed 5% target is more than any NATO member currently spends, with Poland spending 4.12% in 2024. The minister warned, however, it may take Poland up to 10 years to fully implement the defense budget.

Shifts in Power

CHOCZEWO, Poland — The Polish government has allocated 60 billion zloty ($14.3 billion) to fund the country’s first nuclear power plant. The project is being implemented by Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe (PEJ) at its Choczewo site in Pomerania. Construction will be overseen by Bechtel and Westinghouse Electric Company, two leading U.S. companies in the global nuclear industry. The project will drive over 100 billion zloty of economic impact in Poland, creating tens of thousands of jobs during construction and the decades of operation to come.

Meanwhile, Katowice, once the heartland of Poland’s coal industry, hopes to serve as an example for other industrial cities wanting to move away from fossil fuels. The city has already committed to reducing CO2 emissions by 40% compared to 1990, prioritizing investments in green infrastructure, and promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency.