- It is likely we will not see major changes in the United States-Poland relationship, regardless of whether the election is won by candidate Kamala Harris or Donald J. Trump - says COL Ray Wojcik, former US military attaché in Poland, to the portal polskieradio24.pl.
COL Ray Wojcik reminds that presidents of both parties have taken important steps towards strengthening the relationship between the United States and Poland. And, the relationship between these two great allies is stable, deepening and enduring.
The previous Donald Trump administration took major steps in strengthening the U.S. -Poland relationship. This has continued through the Joe Biden administration. For example: in 2020, President Donald Trump and President Andrzej Duda of Poland, signed a breakthrough defense agreement which underpins a new era of strong defense cooperation he notes.
He is referring to the U.S.-Poland Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) signed on August 15, 2020. Ray Wojcik says the signing date on its own was intended to send a message to Moscow. The EDCA was signed on the 100th year anniversary of Poland’s victory over Soviet Russia in the "Battle of Warsaw." A victory for not only Poland, but for free Europe. This is important history to recall now, as Russia attempts to revive imperial ambitions.
COL Wojcik says that since Putin came to power, Russia has unleashed new aggression against its neighbors particularly against Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, Poland and the Baltic States. These nations are key Russian targets for kinetic and hybrid warfare, but all NATO East Flank nations are in danger, and so is the rest of Europe (and beyond) as Russia conducts hybrid activities far beyond Europe including against America. He adds, the danger is increasing rapidly, as Moscow strengthens alliances with Beijing, Tehran and Pyongyang. All three nations are supporting and watching closely, the outcome of Russia’s brutal war on Ukraine.
COL Wojcik says in signing the EDCA with Poland, America was signaling to the Kremlin, that we strongly stand with Poland and other vulnerable Allie’s on NATO’s Eastern Flank. The EDCA specifies, among others: legal status of the American armed forces in Poland which importantly, establishes conditions for the permanent deployment of American forces in Poland. He notes that while some permanent stationing of American forces in Poland has occurred, that this is far from adequate to deter and defend against revisionist Russia. America’s "Camp Kosciuszko," with important USA headquarters units, now established in Poland is a great start he underlines, but let’s do much more with land, air and maritime combat power with our close and loyal ally Poland.
He says the next U.S. President must do more in increasing permanent presence of US forces in Poland. In doing so, other Western Allie’s will follow America’s leadership example in helping to strengthen and secure NATO’s East Flank. He says many do not realize that Europe is America’s number one trading partner. That’s why a free Ukraine, and stability in Europe is a vital American interest and should be treated that way by any U.S. president. Trade is only one aspect of this relationship. Our closest Allie’s including Poland are in Europe. Poland for example, just after 1989, responded positively to every single American request for support in deployed operations - besides the UK, no other ally has a record like this in supporting America. COL Wojcik emphasizes this, adding that Americans need to be aware of this about our fantastic Polish ally. He says Americans should always thank American soldiers for our freedom, but that we can also thank Poles, who for centuries have defended America, and also thank Polish immigrants, who helped to build America.
"I hope they don't repeat this mistake"
Ray Wojcik underlined that the next president must make other policy changes in the central east Europe region. He pointed to the fact that US President Joe Biden recently met with three leaders of key NATO Allie’s to discuss the situation in Ukraine. Germany, Great Britain and France participated in this high level meeting in Berlin. COL Wojcik says he was shocked to hear that Poland, which borders Ukraine, hosts thousands of deployed American troops, operates NATO’s most important logistics hub for Ukraine, and is one of Ukraine's top-three most ardent supporters, was excluded from the meeting. He added that Russian missiles have violated Polish airspace, and that Polish civilians have been killed near Poland’s border with Ukraine due to war impacts. It was a missed strategic opportunity, to exclude Poland from the meeting in Berlin says the former attaché.
He adds that major allies need to take into account Poland's growing importance in Europe, Poland’s deep understanding of the threat Russia poses, Poland’s increasing military capabilities, and the special relationships Poland enjoys with major allies the United States, UK, France and Germany.
- If elected president, I hope Kamala Harris will draw the right conclusion, and not repeat this mistake of the Biden/Harris Administration, excluding Poland from such important talks - emphasizes the former attaché.
Policy towards Ukraine
COL Ray Wojcik hopes that U.S. policy towards Ukraine will change.
- When it comes to Ukraine, we need to see a dramatic change in American policy in a second Trump administration or during a Harris' term. Continuing the current policy of hesitant, and incremental support under the Biden/Harris administration can only drag out the war, cause continued tragedy and suffering of the Ukrainian people, and reduce Ukraine's chances for victory, he notes.
COL Wojcik says, by victory he means, the Russian Army out of Ukraine, restoration of Ukraine’s independence and sovereignty over its 1991 borders, and Ukraine's invitation and clear pathway to NATO membership. He adds that Ukraine's NATO membership remains elusive, primarily due to a lack of U.S. resolve and leadership. This is driven by President Biden's concerns about nuclear escalation with Russia; concerns that are proven unfounded at this point, he adds.
American Defense cooperation with Poland moves forward at unprecedented levels.
The Colonel notes that Poland is making major acquisitions of state-of-the-art American-made equipment, and is spending more than 4% GDP on rapid defense modernization. He underlines that Poland’s spending commitment is more than any other NATO ally, including the United States. "Poland puts its money where its mouth is," COL Wojcik says. He says that Poland is a great example to other NATO Allie’s in rapidly expanding its Army with a robust complement of active, territorial and reserve components.
- The deepening Polish-American defense relationship includes Poland's acquisition of the most advanced American military equipment, from Patriot Air and Missile Defense, to Abrams M1A2-SEPV3 tanks, HIMARS rocket artillery, fifth-generation F35 fighters and much more - our interlocutor notes.
These types of acquisitions have a transformative impact. We can see dramatic changes which the acquisition of American F16s have had on the Polish Air Force. But more important than equipment, America and Poland are accelerating cooperation in training, exercises and education. The result is that more Polish soldiers than ever, are completing American military courses, and more Poles and Americans are training and exercising together.
Ray Wojcik says that in addition, more American exchange officers and liaisons serve in Polish units, and more Poles in American units than ever before. In fact, the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army assigned special teams, known as the U.S. Air Force Detachment and U.S. Army Detachment to Poland. Both are small, but very important "force multipliers" in our allied relationship. These exchanges are a clear sign of the strategic level of the U.S.-Poland relationship, notes the former military attaché. He underlines that having this visible strategic relationship, makes it even more disappointing to see Poland excluded from the recent allied meeting in Berlin. He says the U.S. should have insisted on Poland’s participation in the meeting.
COL Wojcik says, Poland is considered one of America’s and the UK’s most trusted Allie’s. Therefore, it’s time Poland is welcomed to the "Five-Eyes" group of intelligence sharing nations. The Five-Eyes group is currently, America, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. COL Wojcik says perhaps if Poland had been in this group earlier, its clear-eyed assessments of Russia’s capabilities and malign intent would have received deeper consideration, even perhaps driving policies to prevent Russia’s war on Ukraine.
US Embassy
Different paths in the energy sector
According to the former attaché in Poland, depending on the selection of the next American president, different paths may be pursued when it comes to cooperation in the energy sector. A second Trump administration will strive to deepen energy cooperation with Poland, especially in the fields of LNG and nuclear energy. A Harris administration will focus more on the green agenda, which could mean a reduction of American energy exports to Europe including to Poland - this would be a strategic mistake in not supporting energy needs of Poland and other European Allie’s COL Wojcik added.
Ray Wojcik notes that President Trump would likely continue his previous strong support of the regional Three Seas Initiative (3SI). COL Wojcik reminds that it was Poland that inspired the 3SI and helped convince the Trump Administration to support th idea. Trump did so, participating in a major 3SI Summit meeting alongside Poland’s President Duda in Warsaw in 2017. Trump also committed American financial support to 3SI.
Ray Wojcik says the Biden administration has not supported 3SI as enthusiastically. The main objective of 3SI is to rapidly improve the infrastructure situation in Central and Eastern Europe improving lagging: transport, energy systems and digital communications among nations on NATO's eastern flank.
COL Wojcik says if fully implemented, the 3SI agenda will not only strengthen regional and European economic potential, but also, significantly strengthen vital NATO "military mobility." If Harris wins, hopefully she will depart from the Biden handling of 3SI. She should take a closer look and see the strategic value in strengthening American support of 3SI including American loans and grants to bolster this bold initiative.
He added that bolstering the 3SI is a non-military way to help strengthen allied resilience and deterrence in the face of Russian aggression, and that many other western Allie’s will follow America’s leadership in supporting the 3SI. He emphasized that it doesn’t take a "rocket scientist" to see that, U.S. leadership regarding Ukraine, NATO’s Forward Defenses and 3SI are crucial to encouraging other nations to offer their support.
Ray Wojcik concludes, that while the US cannot be a global policeman, America has vital interests in standing against the growing aggression of Russia, China, North Korea and Iran, against our homeland and our Allie’s. This includes our Allie’s in Europe, the Pacific, Middle East, and in the global south. Poland is a vital American ally and continued deepening of the strong U.S.-Poland relationship benefits both of our nations. It supports victory for Ukraine, freedom and stability in Europe, and strong Transatlantic economic growth. Whoever America selects as her next president can be confident that there is no downside in further strengthening close and enduring ties with Poland.
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ed. Agnieszka Kamińska, PolskieRadio24.pl
