Brussels, Washington, Beijing – Geostrategic Conditions for Poland (Part II)
As part of the Forum of Local and Regional Authorities held on 25–26 November in Zakopane, a panel discussion titled “Brussels, Washington, Beijing – Geostrategic Conditions for Poland (Part II)” took place. The discussion focused on how, in the conditions of hybrid war and the degradation of the world order, to rebuild a sense of security in society and the capacity for serious political debate without excessive polarization.
Membership in the EU and NATO is the result of unity after the transformation – what effort can the Polish state afford today to build its geopolitical position? The debate included Paweł Śliz, Member of Parliament, Partner at Frontline Foundation; Bartosz Grodecki, Vice-Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on the European Union; Szymon Szynkowski Vel Sęk; and former Vice-Chairman of the European Parliament, Ryszard Czarnecki. The panel was moderated by Professor Piotr Kimla from Jagiellonian University.
Bartosz Grodecki emphasized that, in reality, we are at war, even if we do not feel it: “We are at war, but we do not have a sense of immediate threat.” He criticized short, emotional forms of public debate in which anyone who tries to go beyond the current narrative and moods is immediately judged negatively. He called for widespread security education (in schools and across all media) and for building strong institutions and social trust. “We must trust ourselves more as a society. It is not yet too late for responsible and serious conversations about security.”
Ryszard Czarnecki warned that the beneficiaries of excessive internal polarization are external enemies, while noting that appeals for unity are sometimes censored. “Democracy is a dispute, but freedom of speech must be defended,” he stated. At the same time, he advocated for a realistic, open partnership with Germany while maintaining awareness of potential differences in interests.
Szymon Szynkowski Vel Sęk emphasized the complexity of the current geopolitical situation but firmly rejected the idea of abandoning any of the pillars – whether American or European. He criticized simplifications by Minister Sikorski and comparisons to the politics of the 1990s. “It is important to strengthen the North Atlantic bridge, but also to gain new alliances and connect them,” he stressed. He pointed out that Poland should actively engage in the geostrategy of the Balkans, which have today become a key center in the region.
Bartosz Grodecki added that the world order is degrading, and conflicts are increasingly managed by regional alliances. He personally supports a multi-vector policy, while maintaining a fundamental alliance with the United States. The Three Seas Initiative is seen not as an alternative but as an additional pillar. Regarding China, he stated that Poland will not completely cut itself off from them, but we must ensure strong protection of critical infrastructure. The alliance with Ukraine, meanwhile, “allows us to keep the conflict as far from Poland as possible.”
In contrast, Ryszard Czarnecki argued that Poland is the only NATO country without a real voice in the Eastern conflict. The European Union, in his opinion, limits Europe’s competitiveness, so it is necessary to speak concretely about permanent national interests: “If we talk about friends, let us talk about specifics.”
