Poland’s outgoing President Andrzej Duda has saved few revelations for the overall weeks of his presidency.
Ten years in administrative center – a tenure spanning Donald Trump’s first and present time period – his admiration for the incumbent chief of the loose international stays undimmed. As is his conviction that Ukraine’s simplest probability of peace lies with the USA chief.
In an interview with Sky Information within the presidential palace in Warsaw, President Duda described Mr Trump’s tariff coverage as “surprise remedy”, a negotiating tactic from a person “of large industry and business good fortune” that he now brings to the sector of politics.
That is probably not what Eu politicians are used to, Mr Duda says, however Donald Trump is answerable to the USA taxpayer and to not his Eu opposite numbers, and allies should “keep calm” within the face of this new transatlantic modus operandi.
As for negotiations with Vladimir Putin, President Duda is certain that Donald Trump has the measure of the Russian chief, whilst refusing to be drawn at the competencies of his leader negotiator Steve Witkoff who landed on Friday in Moscow for additional talks with Vladimir Putin – a person Mr Witkoff has described as “devoted” and “now not a nasty man”.
Striking the kybosh on Nord Flow 2 in his first time period and thwarting President Putin’s power ambitions by way of his state-owned power massive Gazprom are proof sufficient that Mr Trump is aware of the place to hit so it hurts, Mr Duda says.
Given the disasters of Europe’s leaders to barter peace during the Minsk accords, he believes the onus now falls on Donald Trump.
“If any person is in a position to drive the tip of Russia’s battle, it’s possibly simplest the President of the USA,” he says.
“The query is whether or not he’ll be decided sufficient to try this in some way – as a result of it’s also crucial right here in Europe being a neighbour of Russian aggression in opposition to Ukraine – that the peace is truthful and lasting.”
Please use Chrome browser for a extra obtainable video participant
2:21 The Polish NATO base at the frontline with Russia
President Duda has simply weeks left in administrative center sooner than the rustic votes for a brand new president in Would possibly.
At the beginning from Poland’s conservative Regulation and Justice birthday party, one of the crucial few issues of alignment with the liberal and euro-centric high minister Donald Tusk is the emphasis each position on safety.
Hopes for ‘Citadel Trump’ base
So did the announcement this week that the USA could be retreating from the Jasionka air base close to Rzeszow, which is the important thing logistics hub for allied beef up into Ukraine, come as a surprise to the president, because it did to many Poles?
By no means, Mr Duda says.
“We had been warned that the exchange used to be deliberate. I’ve now not gained any data from [the US] about reducing the choice of American squaddies. Fairly the other.”
Symbol: US defence secretary Hegseth and President Duda met in February. Pic: Reuters
He referred again to talks with US defence secretary Pete Hegseth in February, pronouncing: “We mentioned strengthening the American presence in Poland, and I discussed the speculation of making an enormous base of US troops. Then, we known as it Citadel Trump. I do nonetheless hope that this concept might be applied.”
Learn extra:
Eyewitness: Within Polish NATO base on frontline with Russia
Andrzej Duda has staked his legacy on shut ties with Donald Trump at a time when many NATO allies are making an allowance for a type of de-Americanisation, as they imagine new buying and selling realities and increase their very own defence features.
Poland has confirmed itself a style in the case of defence spending, making an investment greater than another NATO member – an enormous 4.7% of GDP for 2025. However because the case of Canada presentations, even the most productive of friendships can flip bitter.
The Canadian conservative birthday party, as soon as dubbed a maple MAGA, used to be flying prime within the polls sooner than Donald Trump determined to savage hyperlinks along with his closest buying and selling spouse.
Now within the area of only some months they’re floundering at the back of the ruling liberal birthday party. Is that this a cautionary story for Poland’s conservative Regulation and Justice birthday party?
“For Canadian conservatives this is a roughly aspect impact of President Trump’s very tricky financial coverage,” Mr Duda says.
“In Poland, this doesn’t have such an affect. The protection problems are an important. That is an important factor in Poland.”
