A recent poll reveals over half of Polish respondents do not believe the United States would defend Poland in the event of a threat, amid NATO concerns.
White House Response to Tusk Interview and NATO Commitments
On April 25, 2026, the White House reacted to an interview with Donald Tusk in the “Financial Times,” addressing tensions surrounding commitments within NATO. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly stated the U.S. would not allow “so-called allies” to exploit the alliance.
Prime Minister Tusk highlighted the practical implications of Article 5 of the Washington Treaty and expressed doubts about whether the provisions would translate into real assistance if Poland were threatened.
Poll Results: Will the U.S. Defend Poland?
A poll was conducted to gauge public opinion on a potential U.S. response to a threat against Poland. The results indicated a majority doubted U.S. support.
Negative Response Dominates Poll
The largest percentage of respondents, 51.94% (1486 votes), answered “no” to the question of whether the U.S. would defend Poland. “Hard to say” received the second-highest number of votes, with 27.96% (800 votes).
Limited Support for U.S. Defense
Only 20.10% of voters (575 declarations) believed the U.S. would defend Poland. A total of 2861 votes were cast in the poll, with a difference of over 30 percentage points between the most and least selected answers. The data was collected on April 28, 2026.
U.S.-Poland Security Cooperation and Future Concerns
The United States has long been Poland’s most important security partner, with ongoing military cooperation including the presence of American troops, infrastructure, and joint exercises, serving as a key deterrent in the region. These actions contribute to regional stability and underpin Poland’s role within NATO.
However, questions about the future of this relationship have increased in recent months, with public debate revisiting doubts about the long-term role of the U.S. in Europe and the potential for a shift in focus to other regions. Poland is responding by strengthening cooperation with other partners and enhancing its own defense capabilities.