The central priority right now is safeguarding Poland. President Andrzej Duda stated in the Sejm that national security across all fronts stands as the absolute objective of Polish foreign policy today.
He was responding to remarks from the head of the Foreign Ministry, Zbigniew Rau, who outlined Poland’s foreign policy goals for 2023 during his Sejm briefing on Thursday.
Later, in a press conference, the president remarked that Rau’s speech demonstrated how active Polish diplomacy has been in recent times, adding that such energy is not accidental.
Next door, a war rages in Ukraine as a result of Russian aggression, Duda noted, underscoring the urgency of the moment.
The most pressing priority for Polish politics is to guarantee the safety of Poles—the people living in Poland—encompassing the entire nation. This, he emphasized, is the core aim of Polish foreign policy in every realm, including energy security, food security, and military readiness in the international arena.
He added that if Rau’s address were to be distilled to one line, it would be a firm commitment to maximize security for the country and its allies.
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Alliance with the United States and support for Ukraine
Duda welcomed Rau’s emphasis on the alliance with the United States, noting that the U.S. remains the leading partner in supporting Ukraine’s defense through the North Atlantic Treaty Organization framework and beyond.
He highlighted the importance of maintaining a strong American presence in Europe, especially on the eastern flank, as a cornerstone of regional security.
In his view, the United States is uniquely positioned to ensure a broader, more stable security environment for Poland and its neighbors.
Poland, together with Britain and the United States, has stood at the forefront in backing Ukraine from the outset. The president observed that Ukrainians are defending their homeland, protecting their sovereignty, and, by extension, safeguarding European security. It is a struggle seen as a fight for freedom and stability across the continent, a history that resonates deeply with Poland’s own past.
– emphasized Andrzej Duda.
Polish mission and purpose on the European stage
The current policy of backing Ukraine, strengthening alliances, and deepening American engagement in Europe, particularly on NATO’s eastern flank, forms what Duda called Poland’s raison d’être today.
The president again listened to Rau’s briefing about 2023 policy tasks, and at a subsequent press event stressed that the foreign policy pursued with the government is coherent and consistent. The overarching goal is to sustain and expand Poland’s strategic activities on the international stage.
In Duda’s words, the policy of supporting Ukraine, fortifying alliances, and increasing the U.S. presence in Europe, especially along NATO’s eastern perimeter, represents Poland’s core reason for existing in today’s security landscape, described as Poland’s raison d’état.
He also noted ongoing plans to strengthen Poland’s security through military procurement and modernization of the armed forces.
Looking back to Lech Kaczyński’s ideas
Reflecting on Europe’s current situation, Duda reminded listeners that those who followed the path laid by President Lech Kaczyński have been on solid political ground for the last two decades. Rau’s remarks on 2023 goals reinforced the active posture of Polish diplomacy, and Duda added that looking at today’s events, the former president’s warnings—such as diversifying energy sources and building a Baltic gas terminal—have proven prophetic.
He recalled Kaczyński’s warning that after the conflict in Georgia, Ukraine, the Baltic states, and potentially Poland would face significant pressure. This security framework, if implemented, could reduce or even negate aggression from adversaries. The world, he argued, has yet to fully enact that policy, especially in Europe.
Poland’s energy diversification and the caution against any mass reliance on a single supplier were emphasized as early steps that proved prescient in light of later events. The president noted that those warnings remain relevant as Europe confronts new challenges and the need to stand united against aggression.
In Duda’s view, the current era demands a robust defense posture. He pointed out that the country continues to invest heavily in capable military systems so that any potential aggressor faces a deterrent too strong to tempt risk. The aim is straightforward: equip Polish forces to deter, not to engage in needless battlefield actions.
There is a recognized paradox in these efforts: arming for defense while seeking to avoid conflict. The president described this as a strategic necessity—ensuring that a modern, well-equipped army makes aggression unattractive and unlikely.
– said Andrzej Duda.
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[Citation: wPolityce]