Poland’s defense minister and US ambassador meet to reaffirm military cooperation, following public dispute about US troop presence.
Meeting Reaffirms Military Cooperation
Polish Minister of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz expressed satisfaction following a meeting with US Ambassador to Poland Thomas Rose. “The conversation confirmed that our security cooperation will not undergo any change,” Kosiniak-Kamysz stated. “The allied presence in our country is an extremely important pillar of the eastern flank’s defense. Poland is today a leader in NATO in terms of defense spending growth. This is noticed and appreciated by our allies from the United States,” the defense minister wrote.
Warsaw is one of “the most reliable allies of the United States in Europe,” Kosiniak-Kamysz emphasized. Ambassador Rose also praised Poland on social media for its defense spending and readiness, writing: “We are proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with such a strong partner on NATO’s eastern flank and a trusted ally of the United States.”
Ambassador’s Social Media Controversy
Just a few days earlier, Ambassador Thomas Rose sparked controversy by announcing a “break in relations” with Włodzimierz Czarzasty and then fueling tensions with subsequent social media posts. In one, he suggested Americans might withdraw from Poland. “Should we take all our soldiers and equipment with us?” the diplomat responded to a user post advising Rose to “go home.”
Gazeta.pl asked the US Embassy to confirm whether this represented its official position, but as of the article’s publication, no response had been received. The ambassador’s comment was subsequently deleted.
Polish Official Condemns Ambassador’s Behavior
Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Marcin Bosacki told Polsat News that Poland had communicated to the US Embassy and the US State Department that the diplomat’s reaction was inappropriate. “If the ambassador or embassy feels the need to correct certain theses by Marshal Czarzasty, there are many, dozens of ways less escalating this rhetorical conflict,” Bosacki evaluated.
“I think that in the recent appearances of Mr. Ambassador, also in the interview published today with ‘Rzeczpospolita’, he no longer wants to talk about what he allegedly offended Marshal Czarzasty [Donald Trump]. I think this is some attempt to de-escalate this conflict,” Bosacki assessed.