American-Polish Relations in the Trump Era

Description

Poland and the United States have long been allies. Despite a general weakening of relations between the US and Europe during the Trump administration, American-Polish relations have reached new heights. Several events demonstrate this development. The US president has excepted Poland in his frequent criticisms of NATO. During a 2017 Warsaw speech, President Trump hailed Poland's history, achievements, and government like no US president before him. Despite a more restrictive immigration policy, the US allowed Poles visa-free travel beginning in 2019 in what had been a persistent challenge for Warsaw. The US president supported Poland in vociferously opposing the Nord Stream pipelines and EU censorship of controversial Polish judicial reforms. Differences in foreign policies toward Russia add another nuance to the relationship. This paper evaluates developments in the bilateral relationship and implications for the European Union and regional cohesion. The Poland-US relationship has increased in importance for both sides not because of a fundamental change in the strategic structure of the North Atlantic alliance, but rather because it reflects the political inclinations and unorthodox strategies of the countries' leaders and domestic political considerations. The paper then evaluates implications for the web of relations among the US, EU, Russia, and China.

Period	25 Sept 2020
Event title	International Studies Association West Annual Conference 2020
Event type	Conference
Location	Pasadena, United States, CaliforniaShow on map
Degree of Recognition	International