Polish president warns of Russian efforts to weaken NATO unity

Polish President Karol Nawrocki has warned that Russia regards NATO as its primary adversary and is actively seeking to weaken the Alliance, including by undermining confidence in its collective defence commitments.

Speaking at the annual meeting of military commanders at the Warsaw Citadel, Nawrocki said Moscow views NATO as “its main enemy in the civilizational war it is waging against the West,” adding that this perception extends to Poland and the entire Alliance.

“In order to weaken the Alliance, it is taking steps to undermine confidence in the mechanism for applying Article 5,” he said, referring to NATO’s collective defence clause. According to the president, Russia “will continue to intimidate the states on the entire eastern flank,” combining military pressure with “a high level of hybrid actions and influence operations throughout Europe.”

Nawrocki also pointed to deepening cooperation between Russia and China, warning that a broader bloc of states questioning the Western-led international order is taking shape. “Unfortunately, Europe is becoming one of the key theatres of this rivalry,” he said.

He cautioned that Russia’s continued actions could destabilise the regional security environment and potentially lead to developments unfavourable to Poland, including direct confrontation. Even if the intensity of the war in Ukraine changes, he argued, countries along NATO’s eastern flank will continue to face the consequences. “We must be prepared to respond to a series of events and incidents below the threshold of war that will test our resilience,” Nawrocki said, adding that such efforts would aim to fracture NATO unity.

The Polish leader also warned against what he described as superficial de-escalation in Ukraine. A frozen conflict or partial recognition of the current front line in eastern Ukraine, he said, could create a long-term dividing line in Europe. “In such a scenario, Russia will remain even more revisionist, outwardly weakened, but in reality, unfortunately, still ready for war,” he stated.

Emphasising Poland’s response, Nawrocki called the country’s armed forces the most important guarantee of national security. He stressed that NATO members must contribute more actively to strengthening the Alliance’s defence and deterrence capabilities. “The use by some countries of so-called ‘security dividends’ at the expense of the community is unacceptable,” he said, underscoring that collective defence requires shared responsibility.

Nawrocki reaffirmed that NATO and the strategic alliance with the United States remain the cornerstone of Poland’s security. He noted that Washington expects European allies to assume a greater share of collective defence obligations. “Meeting American expectations, but above all our own expectations in this matter, is in the interests of all Europeans,” he said.

The president added that deepening the strategic partnership with the United States and maintaining a strong American military presence in Poland will remain key priorities of his presidency.

By Tamilla Hasanova