Former Polish President Andrzej Duda joins Heritage Foundation as distinguished fellow, serving as advisor to promote Polish interests.
Heritage Foundation: The Ideological Backbone of “Trumpism”
For years, the Heritage Foundation has been considered one of the most important intellectual backbones of American conservatism. In recent years, the foundation has clearly moved closer to Donald Trump’s circle, with its current head Kevin Roberts directly speaking of the “institutionalization of Trumpism.”
It is from Heritage that many political and personnel concepts originate, later reaching Republican administrations, including Project 2025. Former Polish President Andrzej Duda has been invited to collaborate and presented as a distinguished visiting fellow – an external expert with experience in Central and Eastern Europe.
Duda: “I Am an Advisor and Consultant”
In an interview with RMF, Andrzej Duda did not hide that the invitation from the Heritage Foundation is an honor for him. He also emphasized his good relations with Donald Trump, with whom – as he recalled – he met multiple times during his presidency.
“I am an advisor, a consultant. I will be collaborating on various projects, providing opinions on analyses prepared for American authorities,” said the former president. He added that his main task will be primarily to share his experience from the region, which since 2022 has found itself at the center of global security policy.
The former president does not hide that he sees this as an opportunity for real influence. “Of course, I will promote Polish interests,” he emphasized, announcing his participation in conferences, debates, and media appearances already as a Heritage Foundation expert.
Ukraine, Security, and Central Europe
Andrzej Duda’s statements indicate that the main areas of his work will be the war in Ukraine and the security of the eastern flank of NATO. The former president reminded that he was a direct participant in the most important political events in the region over the last decade, including the West’s reaction to Russian aggression.
It is precisely this perspective that he sees as his asset in conversations with Americans.
Andrzej Duda: “Poland Should Join the Peace Council”
In an interview with RMF, the former president also addressed the concept of the so-called Peace Council – a new format in which countries co-deciding on the future of the security system and the resolution of global conflicts, including the war in Ukraine, would be seated.
Among others, Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko would be in the Council. Andrzej Duda emphasized that Poland has been invited to participate in this format, and the sum of one billion dollars appearing in public debate does not concern participation itself, but rather a possible permanent seat. According to the former president, Poland should join the organization.
“Yalta Taught Us the Cost of Absence”
The former president referred to the experience of World War II and the Yalta Conference, where the fate of Poland was decided without the participation of Polish authorities.
“If this Council actually works and decides on such important issues as are being discussed today, then of course it is worth spending a billion dollars to be in this Council. This means participating in making the most important decisions regarding the construction of world peace and world politics,” said the former president.
“There were times when we were missing at such a table. For example, in Yalta. And we suffered for a long time because of that,” he said. He added that two generations of Poles were born “behind the iron curtain” precisely because no one defended Polish interests at the table of the great powers. Let us recall that according to initial assumptions, Donald Trump’s Peace Council was supposed to concern the situation in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has already received an invitation to the format. No such offer has been made to representatives of Palestinian authorities.
Conversations with Putin?
The interviewer directly asked whether sitting at one table with Vladimir Putin is at all acceptable. In Duda’s view, presence at the table means legitimizing Putin, but securing one’s own interests.
The alternative is to have no influence on decisions that will be made anyway. “A criminal needs to be put in prison,” said Duda.