The speech, the contents of which were reviewed by the Polish government a month ago, comes against the backdrop of heightened geopolitical tensions and will be followed by a debate on international affairs, lasting until 6:00 p.m.
President Andrzej Duda, along with foreign diplomats accredited in Poland, is expected to attend the session. Before the debate, Duda will meet with the Speaker of the Sejm, Szymon Hołownia.
“The foreign minister’s annual exposé is one of the most important traditions in the Sejm for debating the country’s foreign policy,” said Paweł Kowal, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Council for Cooperation with Ukraine, in a social media post.
What topics will FM Sikorski address in his upcoming exposé?
Last week, the head of Polish diplomacy told Polish Radio that he plans to discuss key differences between the government and the opposition during his upcoming speech to parliament.
Minister Sikorski noted that the opposition believes Poland’s security should depend on the U.S. president, a view he partly shares, acknowledging that deterring Vladimir Putin without U.S. involvement is difficult.
He emphasized that, unlike nationalists, the government supports gradually building a 'second insurance policy' through the European Union’s military capabilities.
While he admitted the EU won’t be ready to deter Russia in the near future, he argued it should be able to handle smaller crises, such as potential conflicts in the Balkans or North Africa, independently.
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Source: IAR/PAP/X/@MSZ_RP/@pawelkowalpl/@sikorskiradek