Poland, US forge transatlantic energy alliance to counter dependence on Russia Article by The National Interest

The United States and Poland are laying the foundation for a new transatlantic energy order, driven by shared geopolitical priorities, rapidly growing energy demand in Central and Eastern Europe, and Poland’s strategic embrace of American energy technologies.

Poland, now Europe’s fastest-growing economy, has emerged as a vital partner in Washington’s broader efforts to reduce European reliance on Russian energy. With the European Union accelerating efforts to phase out Russian natural gas, U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) and nuclear technology are set to play a central role in the continent’s future energy mix—and Poland is positioning itself at the forefront of this shift, Caliber.Az reports, citing an article by The National Interest.

Recent developments underscore the deepening energy partnership. U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright visited Warsaw to oversee the signing of a key Engineering Development Agreement between the Westinghouse-Bechtel Consortium and Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe (PEJ) for the construction of Poland’s first AP-1000 nuclear power plant. The three-unit facility marks a historic step in Poland’s long-term strategy to diversify its energy sources and is expected to generate thousands of American jobs across the supply chain. A second plant is also in the planning stages.

Poland plans to construct three nuclear power plants domestically and support others across the Three Seas region—a zone bounded by the Baltic, Black, and Adriatic Seas. The region is emerging as a battleground for global energy influence, with Russia, China, Japan, and France vying for major infrastructure contracts. The U.S., working in close coordination with Poland, aims to secure its role as the region’s leading energy partner.

The transatlantic cooperation extends beyond traditional nuclear reactors. Small modular reactors (SMRs), LNG terminals, and pipeline integration all form part of Poland’s pragmatic “all-of-the-above” strategy. The Świnoujście LNG terminal—Poland’s flagship import facility—is already the second-largest on the Baltic Sea after Germany’s Wilhelmshaven and serves as a crucial node in Central Europe’s energy network.

Beyond energy, Poland’s robust military investment—allocating more than 4 per cent of GDP to defence—adds to its growing stature as a reliable U.S. ally in confronting shared adversaries such as Russia and China. U.S. officials have described Poland as embodying the core tenets of a reinvigorated transatlantic alliance: a dynamic economy, strategic location, and deep commitment to regional security.

This vision aligns with Poland’s broader geopolitical outlook, shaped by the country’s wartime history and post-Soviet scepticism. Poland and the Baltic states were early critics of Germany’s Nord Stream 2 pipeline, warning of the strategic risks of European dependence on Russian gas—a view later echoed by the Trump administration.

Poland has also taken a leading role in the Three Seas Initiative (3SI), a regional infrastructure and connectivity platform launched with Croatia. The initiative offers a democratic, self-sustaining alternative to China's “16+1” framework and has received strong backing from Washington. Former President Donald Trump personally endorsed the 3SI during his first term, promising U.S. financial support.

By Khagan Isayev