On 18 November, AfD member Fabian Keubel tweeted that Poles are Europe’s “Afro-Americans”, provoking Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk to denounce the remarks on X.
AfD claims Poles are Europe’s “Afro-Americans”
On 18 November, Fabian Keubel of Germany’s AfD posted that Poles “are simply the Afro-Americans of Europe” and described them as a “great, respectable, endless victim of European history”. He added that being a victim is part of Polish national identity.
Tusk condemns AfD’s remarks
On 20 November, Prime Minister Donald Tusk responded on X, calling the AfD leaders “Nawrocki, Kaczyński and Mentzen” and accusing them of labeling Poles as a “forever victim complex” and a greater threat than Russia. He said it was shameful.
Keubel echoes AfD leader on Polish threat
Keubel also agreed with AfD co‑chairman Tino Chrupalla’s view that Germany sees a threat from Poland. Chrupalla appeared on German TV on 11 November, stating that he does not currently see a Russian threat to Germany but that any country, including Poland, could pose one.
Keubel references Sikorski’s Nord Stream 2 post
Keubel noted Radosław Sikorski’s 2022 North Sea gas pipeline leak photo, where Sikorski wrote “Thank you, USA”. He added the same phrase in reply to a Tusk tweet about a Russian sabotage investigation in Polish railways.
Claims of Russian sabotage in Poland
Tusk announced that the investigation concluded Russian intelligence ordered an explosion on Polish rail and recruited two Ukrainians. He also said the perpetrators fled to Belarus.
