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Polish FM in Washington on Polish-US relations, strategic partnerships

05.05.2024 10:00
During his visit to Washington, Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski reaffirmed Poland's commitment to maintaining strong relations with the United States, irrespective of political transitions.
Audio
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski.
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski. Photo: PAP/EPA/OLIVIER HOSLET

Speaking at the Kennedy Center during the FT Weekend Festival conference, Sikorski emphasized the importance of fostering robust ties with America and avoiding the mistakes of the past.

"In relations with the USA, we don't put all our chips on one color," Sikorski stated during a briefing for the media.

"We aim for the best possible relations with America regardless of who's in charge, and we won't repeat the mistakes of our predecessors," he added.

Sikorski highlighted his meeting with Gen. Keith Kellogg, a close foreign policy advisor to former President Donald Trump and a current member of the America First Policy Institute think tank.

Poland’s top diplomat expressed optimism about their rapport, saying he was impressed by Kellogg's understanding of regional dynamics and the significance of Poland's contributions.

"This is a man who understands the situation in our region, understands the stakes of this war, and understands that Poland is doing more than other allies," Sikorski remarked.

"It seems to me that Poland has a friend in General Kellogg," he added.

Sikorski distanced himself from calls to raise NATO member states' defense spending threshold to 3 percent of GDP, public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.

Speaking about the war in Ukraine, Sikorski emphasized the need for concerted action to end Russian aggression and advocated for broader international efforts beyond Ukraine.

"The costs Russia has borne so far have not been high enough," Sikorski argued. "As I said, [they] shouldn't be limited to Ukraine ... We should create uncertainty for [the Russians] about what we will do everywhere, not just in Ukraine."

(jh/gs)

Source: PAP

Click on the audio player above to listen to a report by Radio Poland's Michał Owczarek.