Duda and Trump are expected to discuss defence, trade, energy, and telecommunications security when they meet at the White House on Wednesday amid plans for a troop shift in Europe.
Paweł Soloch, head of the Polish president’s National Security Bureau (BBN), said on Sunday that during his visit to Washington Duda would be representing not only Poland but also “NATO and EU member states.”
The White House press secretary said in a statement last week that Duda's visit "comes at a critical time for both the United States and Poland, as we reopen our countries after months of battling the coronavirus pandemic."
Polish presidential aide Krzysztof Szczerski told reporters on Thursday Duda would be the first foreign leader to visit the White House since the beginning of the coronavirus epidemic, which caused all of Trump’s meetings with guests from abroad to be suspended.
He also said that the Duda-Trump meeting would be important for "the consistency of NATO and the quality of the Transatlantic bond."
Duda's trip to Washington is likely to coincide with Trump’s plans to announce an increase in the number of US forces stationed in Poland, according to the politico.com website.
Trump plans to cut US troop numbers in Germany by more than 9,000 while increasing the US presence in Poland, the Politico news service reported last week.
Duda's visit will be taking place ahead of Poland’s presidential election, which is scheduled for June 28. Duda is seeking another five years in office.
(gs/pk)
Source: president.pl, PAP