Prime Minister Donald Tusk issued a sharp rebuke on Sunday, May 17, criticizing Jarosław Kaczyński and Karol Nawrocki for their recent comments regarding Poland’s deteriorating security relations with the United States.
Kaczyński’s critique of the government’s foreign policy
Jarosław Kaczyński recently targeted the Tusk administration, blaming it for the loss of American trust and the alleged weakening of Poland’s position within NATO. This follows reports from Reuters and CNN that the Pentagon has canceled plans to rotate 4,000 troops into Poland as part of a broader reduction of U.S. forces in Europe.
The Law and Justice leader took to X on Saturday and Sunday, accusing the government of destroying bilateral relations within two years. He characterized the current administration’s actions as either incompetence or a deliberate pro-German policy that neglects Polish national interests.
Tusk dismisses opposition rhetoric
Prime Minister Tusk rejected these accusations on Sunday, accusing Kaczyński of attempting to shift the blame for Washington’s strategic decisions onto Poland. Tusk also condemned Karol Nawrocki for criticizing the Polish state while attending the Bucharest Nine summit, stating that the opposition’s behavior is increasingly problematic.
Nawrocki on the Ziobro visit to the United States
During the Bucharest Nine summit on Wednesday, May 13, President Karol Nawrocki addressed concerns regarding Zbigniew Ziobro’s recent trip to the U.S. Nawrocki insisted that the visit would not negatively impact Polish-American relations.
Nawrocki emphasized that both he and Donald Trump prioritize military and security issues over individual travel matters. He dismissed the focus on Ziobro’s visa situation as a distraction from vital state security concerns, labeling the former minister’s travel a private matter.