ANALYSIS/OPINION:
President Biden’s Geneva meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin has produced considerable commentary in the United States and Europe. The President spoke forcefully of American interests and values and smartly chose to forego a joint press conference that would have elevated Mr. Putin’s standing on the world stage.
Unfortunately, the summit appears to have had little impact on Russia’s behavior. Tens of thousands of Russian troops remain stationed along the border of Ukraine. Moscow has not been induced to reduce its pressure on Ukraine by recent press reports that the Biden Administration intends to freeze a $100 million U.S. arms package slated for Kiev.
Moscow’s crosshairs are not just focused on former Soviet Republics such as Ukraine and the Baltics. It also has former Warsaw Pact states such as Poland in its sights. A member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) since 1999 and the European Union (EU) since 2004, Poland has been an exemplary ally of the U.S. For example, Warsaw provided significant troops to U.S.-led coalitions in both Iraq and Afghanistan. The relationship between Warsaw and Washington has been strengthened over the past dozen years by mutual concern over Moscow’s invasion of Georgia, the annexation of Crimea and proxy action in Eastern Ukraine, and aggressive retaliation against Russian dissidents and defectors throughout Europe.
The strengthening of relations between Poland and the U.S. has been a bipartisan American foreign policy success story. Presidents and Congresses of both parties share an appreciation of Warsaw’s strategic importance on NATO’s eastern flank. Poland hosts the NATO Multinational Corps and Division Northeast Headquarters, a NATO Force Integration Unit, and the U.S. Army’s V Corps Headquarters. The growing interoperability of U.S. and Polish forces, strengthened by regular joint exercises, is an important component of NATO’s deterrence efforts in Europe.
As the Biden Administration seeks to assure America’s longstanding European allies of our transatlantic commitment, further bolstering our ties with Poland is imperative. The Poles have already demonstrated their own support for NATO by spending nearly 2.5% of the nation’s GDP on defense.
The Biden Administration has an opportunity now to draw Poland even closer to the U.S. through the foreign military sales (FMS) of key platforms such as the M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank, advanced anti-aircraft systems, and next-generation fighter aircraft to our alley. The provision of such advanced weapons systems will show Washington’s commitment to Poland and NATO, especially its Eastern European members when they are concerned about the Russian Bear’s movements in the region. U.S. manufactured tanks, missiles and jet aircraft to improve the interoperability of U.S. and Polish forces when America is basing more and more troops in Poland. Such sales also support the American industrial base and its workers, which must remain the “arsenal of democracy.”
The U.S. and Poland have been partners since Polish heroes Casimir Pulaski and Tadeusz Kosciuszko fought to secure American independence during our Revolution. Throughout two world wars and the Cold War, the American people were passionate believers in Poland’s sovereignty and independence. Today, three decades after the fall of the Soviet Union, Poland again confronts an increasingly aggressive Russia. Washington must be bold in supporting Warsaw and that message is best sent by upgrading Poland’s defenses.
• Robert C. O’Brien served as the 28th United States National Security Advisor from 2019-2021.
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