Posted on 01/15/2019 7:07:00 AM PST by CondoleezzaProtege
Berlin and Warsaw have very different ideas about how to respond to the challenge Trump’s presidency poses to Europe. While Germany emphasises the need to strengthen Europe’s resilience and unity, the Polish response has been to embrace the opportunities of the new political reality and enhance its bilateral partnership with the US.
...Furthermore, the 2018 US National Defense Strategy defines Russia as a “strategic adversary”, in line with threat perceptions in Warsaw. In fact, the Polish government is much more enthusiastic about the direction of Washington’s current policy than that under Trump’s predecessor, Barack Obama, who attempted to “reset” American-Russian relations.
Germany and France criticise American unilateralism for threatening the West’s unity, but Poland has other concerns. In Warsaw, political elites’ fear that America will betray Polish or European interests is weaker than their concern about the consequences of loosening transatlantic bonds. In other words, pushing European sovereignty as the medicine for the transatlantic crisis is seen as more dangerous than the disease it intends to cure. This scepticism about the direction of the western European debate about Trump and transatlantic relations only enhances Poland’s eagerness to strengthen its bilateral relationship with the US and position itself as Washington’s best ally in Europe.
(Excerpt) Read more at ecfr.eu ...
The Poles may be noble and much more honorable than the Germans, but they and other Europeans must come to understand that Americans will never again sacrifice blood and treasure on their behalf. No American mother wants their son to die fighting for the “just” borders of the Ukraine.
Poland remembers what “European unity” has meant in the past.
Of course, which is why it’s not just about approaches to miliary that hang in the balance but economics, and general political orientation etc...
Trump is trying to boost US Energy Production and Poland would rather buy our energy than Russia’s for example.
The Poles have ended up on the “sh***y end of the stick” too many times, they are wise not to trust/bank on EU ideals.
“Trump divides Germany and Poland”.
As if Poland and Germany have been unified over the years. Think back to World War II, when Germany and Russia attacked and divided up Poland. That’s left a mark in Polish national memory.
The Poles may be noble and much more honorable than the Germans, but they and other Europeans must come to understand that Americans will never again sacrifice blood and treasure on their behalf.
No American mother, father,grandparent wants their sons/grandsons/nephews to die fighting for the “just” borders of the Ukraine.
It’s tough being a country on a natural invasion path with no significant natural borders.
That wasn’t the first time. In the late 18th century Prussia, Austria and Russia partitioned Poland until there was nothing left...from 1795 to 1918 Poland did not exist as an independent nation.
Only to the south. I think they could handle an invasion from Slovakia pretty easily.
This sounds like a great opportunity for Trump to forge a new and stronger relationship with Poland.
They should consider a Swiss or Baltic defense model base on full citizen deployment and guerrilla warfare.
“How the Trump Era divides Germany and Poland”
The Poles don’t need any outside influence to make them wary of Deutschland.
The current conservative Polish government is a just a speed bump. The young people in Poland are fully onboard the EU fantasy and it’s just a matter of time until the generation that remembers communism dies off.
Really?! :( Has this been your experience? Please expand.
Good point. Only someone completely ignorant of the modern history between the two countries would think we are causing friction between the two.
The Poles rightly see Germany’s real aim as strengthening the EU in opposition to America as a means of increasing GERMANY’S power and control since Germany will always dominate the EU - particularly with the UK seceding. Furthermore, history has taught the Poles bitter lessons about what happens when you are weak in the face of Russian aggression or when you rely on security guarantees from feckless Yurps.
Remember WW2? Poland does. And maybe Germany does as well but from a different viewpoint.
None of this should be considered unexpected.
Who says Germans don't have a sense of humor. That's rather droll, isn't it?
There are 30 year olds now in Poland who have no memory of communism and the bad economics of the ‘90s. European corporate nearshoring has brought prosperity to educated younger Eastern Europeans and many local companies have gained vast knowledge. Many of the uneducated have left those countries. The EU does a good job marketing the fun bits to young people. Erasmus student exchange program, etc. I can see why the EU is popular amongst them.
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