Former German ambassador to Poland, Rolf Nikel, said in an interview with the NTV news channel that “ultimately, the American decision to supply tanks led to a change in Germany’s position”, and Law and Justice attempts to attribute this success for themselves. Jakub Kumoch, former Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to Switzerland and Turkey, former head of the International Policy Office of the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland, responded to these words.
Press Germany. Was the position of the US decisive?
When asked if he agreed with Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki’s words that “Germany is acting in a way that is difficult to understand” regarding the delivery of Leopard tanks to Ukraine, Nikel replied that the pressure exerted by the head of the Polish government on Scholz exercised “rather unusual” in relations between allies and partners.
But each has its own characteristics. There are elections in Poland this year. We must be prepared for Germany to play an important role in this election campaign
said the German politician.
According to the former ambassador to Poland, it was the US position on the supply of Abrams tanks to Ukraine that decided to change Germany’s attitude, not Poland’s pressure. Nikel stated that Law and Justice is trying to make this change a success.
This is what PiS politicians are trying to do, although it is doubtful that public pressure will really help. Ultimately, it was the American decision to supply the tanks that led to a change in Germany’s position
Nikel said.
Kumoch: “And yes, Poland did it”
Jakub Kumoch, a diplomat, former head of the Bureau of International Policy, who himself took part in the negotiations about tanks, responded to the words of the German ambassador.
As a former ambassador, I advise a former ambassador to stop spouting nonsense. You gave the tanks because you were forced. And yes, Poland did. And I took part in it myself and used my knowledge of German. I know it hurts
– emphasized Jakub Kumoch in a Twitter post.
The argument was very simple: Germany is focused on its image and will not maintain a sterile narrative without damaging it. They already have a new one. It says: the US forced us, not Poland. Weak. Well, without the announcement of Andrzej Duda from Lviv (January 11, 2023), no one would force them
– indicated the diplomat, adding that “there will now be a story about the ‘historic agreement between Scholz and Biden’”, and the case shows that one must act as “accommodated facts”.
In turn, Marcin Król, the Polish consul in Berlin, stressed in a Twitter post that it is “strategically wrong” to call Poland a “moment”.
I can only advise against talking about the “Polish moment”. Poland has become a country of rapidly growing economic, political and military importance in the European Union. The result of hard work. Calling us a “moment” is strategically wrong
– wrote Marcin King.
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– I’ve got guts! Former German ambassador lectures Warsaw: “This ‘Polish moment’ is passing faster than some people think”
wkt/TT/www.n-tv.de
Source: wPolityce
Emma Matthew is a political analyst for “Social Bites”. With a keen understanding of the inner workings of government and a passion for politics, she provides insightful and informative coverage of the latest political developments.