Marcel Rutkowski
On November 20th, the conference “25 Years of Poland in NATO—Past, Present and Future Commitment of Poland” was held at the Staszic Palace in Warsaw. The event was organized by the Institute of New Europe, funded by NATO’s Public Diplomacy Division.
Twenty-five years have passed since the expansion of the North Atlantic Alliance to include former Warsaw Pact states—Poland, the Czech Republic, and Hungary. This quarter-century has seen significant transformations: new international threats, escalating tensions, and dynamic development within member states, as well as challenges to the global order. These factors prompted a deeper reflection on Poland’s role in NATO and the opportunities that lie ahead.
We would like to thank the Young Diplomats Forum, the Opportunity Institute for Foreign Affairs, and the Casimir Pulaski Foundation for their patronage of the conference. We also extend our gratitude to the speakers for their insightful contributions and to the attendees for their presence.
The event featured two thematic panels: military and political.
The first panel—The Polish Armed Forces: The Path to NATO, Evolution, and Future Role in the Alliance—included Lt Gen (ret.) PhD Andrzej Fałkowski, Brig Gen (ret.) Jerzy Gut, Krzysztof Wojczal, Lt Col (ret.) Maciej Korowaj, and Mikołaj Teperek as the moderator of both panels.
The discussion aimed to outline the path of transformation the Polish military has undergone since the 1990s, including the changes and modernization necessary to achieve operational and interoperability standards in line with other NATO forces. Experiences from foreign missions in Afghanistan, Kosovo, and Iraq were highlighted, along with Poland’s current position in NATO on the eastern flank. The panel also explored the future of the Polish military in the face of geopolitical instability, the war on Poland’s eastern border, and challenges related to the modernization of the defense industry.
Poland has undergone a significant transformation: troop reductions, participation in the Partnership for Peace program (1994), and modernization of the armed forces enabled alignment with NATO standards. Missions in Iraq and Afghanistan enhanced combat experience, particularly among special forces, which have become Poland’s specialty in the Alliance. Investments in modern equipment (e.g., F-35s, FA-50s, tanks) require effective training and logistics development. Poland must prioritize defense spending, enhance deterrence capabilities, and internationalize stationed forces. Protecting infrastructure and preparing society for various wartime scenarios remain crucial amid growing geopolitical threats.
Panelists emphasized key challenges for Poland, including modernizing equipment, logistics, and developing new defense technologies. They also stressed the need to strengthen deterrence capabilities, especially against threats from Russia and other states.
From a long-term perspective, experts noted the need to adapt to a changing security environment, considering demographic challenges and increasing national debt. Education and societal preparedness were also identified as critical issues, particularly concerning hybrid and cognitive warfare, necessitating new approaches to defense by both Poland and NATO.
The importance of developing Poland’s defense industry was underscored, as reliance on external supplies alone is insufficient. In the context of modernization programs such as “Wisła,” logistical challenges—including adapting to new weapon systems and domestic production issues—were highlighted.
The second panel—Poland in NATO, NATO in Poland: How Alliance Membership Has Changed Poland’s International Position and What Challenges Lie Ahead Amid the Threat of War?—featured Prof. Agnieszka Legucka, PhD Mihai Sebe, PhD Wojciech Lorenz, PhD Jacek Raubo, and Mikołaj Teperek.
The panel aimed to outline the changes in Poland’s international position due to NATO membership and analyze how Poland’s presence in the Alliance has impacted transatlantic relations and relationships with other regional states. The panel also addressed challenges and opportunities facing Poland amid the ongoing war in Ukraine and the potential threat of conflict with the Russian Federation.
Poland’s accession to NATO was a major diplomatic success, requiring economic reforms, strategic political decisions, and successfully convincing the U.S. to support NATO enlargement. Poland’s geopolitical location and determination have made it a leader on NATO’s eastern flank. “This is a significant success that has been effectively utilized,” noted PhD Wojciech Lorenz.
Currently, Poland allocates 4.7% of its GDP to defense, making it a regional leader in military spending. As PhD Jacek Raubo observed, these resources are essential to counter conventional threats, invest in new technologies, and modernize existing equipment. Attention was also drawn to NATO’s internal alliances, such as the Romania-Poland-Turkey and Romania-Spain-Poland formats, highlighting Poland’s role as an interconnector between NATO’s flanks.
The key challenge remains deterring Russia and preparing for emerging threats. Poland must simultaneously strengthen national defense capabilities and contribute to collective defense within NATO. The war in Ukraine will determine whether deterrence proves effective or Russia takes action against the Alliance.
Transatlantic relations with the U.S. form the cornerstone of Poland and NATO’s security. “We cannot expect America to behave as it did decades ago,” noted PhD Raubo, emphasizing the need to adapt to global challenges and Washington’s priorities. In this context, Poland’s efforts to build its defense capabilities also enhance cohesion within the Transatlantic Alliance.
NATO faces the challenge of adapting its activities to the changing geopolitical landscape while avoiding the regionalization of defense. Poland, through collaboration and modernization of its armed forces, plays a key role in the region’s security and the Alliance’s future.
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