"Thirty years after the Iron Curtain came down, today Poland is one of the United States' best friends on the European continent…"
- Secretary Pompeo, February 12, 2019
Secretary Pompeo will travel to Poland on August 15, 2020, where he will meet with President Andrzej Duda, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, and Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz. The visit coincides with the centennial anniversary of Poland's victory over Bolshevik forces in the Battle of Warsaw in August 1920 and the 40th anniversary of the founding of Solidarity.
POLAND IS ONE OF THE UNITED STATES' CLOSEST AND STRONGEST ALLIES
· Poland is one of the United States' closest and strongest allies, with ties stretching back to America's founding. Every post-1989 Polish government has been a strong supporter of a close and collaborative relationship with the United States, as well as of a continued U.S. military and economic presence in Europe. The United States and Poland work closely together on a range of global challenges, including promoting international peace and stability, safeguarding European security and global energy security, countering transnational terrorism, and promoting economic growth and prosperity.
· Our countries enjoy an unprecedented level of bilateral relations. President Trump visited Poland in 2017, and President Duda has visited the White House three times - in September 2018, June 2019, and June 2020. The presidents signed two Joint Declarations on Strategic Partnership, making clear that the United States and Poland will enhance co-operation and deepen our security relationship. Our partnership is critical because of growing security challenges, including aggressive Russian behavior in Europe and elsewhere.
SECURITY AND ECONOMIC TIES ARE BETTER THAN AT ANY TIME IN HISTORY
· Security and economic ties between Poland and the United States are better than at any time in history. Since Poland became a NATO member in 1999, bilateral military ties have grown ever closer, and Poland hosts thousands of U.S. troops annually as part of our joint efforts to ensure European security. Poland's generous offer to contribute major resources to support additional U.S. forces recently led to the successful negotiation of an Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement.
· Poland is one of the few NATO Allies that meet the Wales Pledge to spend two percent of gross domestic product on defense. Poland is in the middle of an ambitious multi-year, multi-billion-dollar defense modernization program that includes significant U.S.-origin military purchases. This program reflects Poland's strong commitment to sharing defense burdens and enhancing NATO capabilities.
· Bilateral trade continues to set records in both directions. U.S. investment in Poland is at a record high, estimated at nearly $63 billion, including by cutting-edge technology companies like Google and Microsoft. We have signed three long-term term contracts for U.S. LNG since 2018 that will diversify Poland's energy sources and improve its energy security. Our two nations also concluded a nuclear cooperation memorandum of understanding in June 2019 that signals our long-term commitment to working together to develop Poland's civil nuclear program and jointly pursue the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
STRONG PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE TIES
· Our strong friendship and people-to-people ties stretch back centuries. Poland supported the American Revolution, and the United States is proud of the role Americans played in Poland's rebirth in 1989 as a free, sovereign, and independent nation. As both of our peoples have fought for our freedom, we understand that our relationship is built on a strong foundation of shared democratic values.
· Poland's entry to the Visa Waiver Program effective November 11, 2019 is another major win for our relationship, which reflected the excellent cooperation between our two countries. The security agreements completed between our two governments in this context bring an additional dimension to our bilateral security cooperation and make U.S. borders more secure.
