Poland–United States relations

Polish-American relations officially began in 1919. Since 1989 Polish-American relations are very good and Poland is one of the most stable European allies of the United States.

Before 20th century

Although the partitioning of Poland which erased the Polish state from the map in 1795 prevented the establishment of official diplomatic relations between Poland and the new American state, Poland, which enacted the world's second oldest constitution in 1791 always considered the United States a positive influence, and even in the 18th century, important Polish figures such as Tadeusz Kościuszko and Kazimierz Pułaski became closely involved with shaping US history. Many Poles emigrated to United States, forming a large Polish American community.

econd Polish Republic

The United States established diplomatic relations with the newly formed Polish Republic in April 1919 but the relations between the two countries were distant, while positive (due to United States non-interventionism and Poland not being seen as important for US interests).

Eventually both countries became part of the Allies in the Second World War, but there was relatively little need for detailed coordination between the United States and the Polish government in exile.

Communist period

After 1945, Poland (or the People's Republic of Poland since 1952) became part of the Soviet bloc, and as such, America's enemy in the Cold War. However, Polish people have unofficially always considered United States a friendly power, and the Soviet Union an occupant.

After Gomulka came to power in 1956, relations with the United States began to improve. However, during the 1960s, reversion to a policy of full and unquestioning support for Soviet foreign policy objectives and negative attitude toward Israel during the Six-Day War caused those relations to stagnate. U.S.-Polish relations improved significantly after Edward Gierek succeeded Gomulka and expressed his interest in improving relations with the United States. A consular agreement was signed in 1972.

In 1974 Gierek was the first Polish leader to visit the United States. This action, among others, demonstrated that both sides wished to facilitate better relations.

The birth of Solidarity in 1980 raised the hope that progress would be made in Poland's external relations as well as in its domestic development. During this time, the United States provided $765 million in agricultural assistance. Human rights and individual freedom issues, however, were not improved upon, and the U.S. revoked Poland's most-favored-nation (MFN) status in response to the Polish Government's decision to ban Solidarity in 1981. MFN status was reinstated in 1987, and diplomatic relations were upgraded.

Post Communism

The United States and Poland have enjoyed warm bilateral relations since 1989. Every post-1989 Polish government has been a strong supporter of continued American military and economic presence in Europe, and Poland is one of the most staunch allies of the United States.

When Poland joined NATO on March 12th, 1999 the two countries became part of the same military alliance. As well as supporting the Global War on Terror, Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, and coalition efforts in Iraq, Poland cooperates closely with American diplomacy on such issues as democratization, nuclear proliferation, human rights, regional cooperation in central and eastern Europe, and UN reform.

Deployment of US missile defense shield

An even tighter security alliance with the US was announced in the middle of the 2008 South Ossetia war‎ (where Poland had taken a leading role in the international community's response on the side of Georgia) as an agreement between the two countries was reached to allow the US to install and operate an interceptor missile defense shield, a move which Russia sees explicitly targetting it, prompting Russian president Dmitry Medvedev to state that it made Poland "a legitimate military target." [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Rice to visit Poland to sign missile shield deal |url=http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gLzVO9YmRVo2zJXJwfNJ0XQRZQWg |work= |publisher=AFP |date=August 18, 2008 |accessdate=2008-08-18 ] A high-ranking Russian military official said, "Poland in deploying [the US system] opens itself to a nuclear strike." [cite news |first=M K |last=Bhadrakumar |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=China seeks Caucasian crisis windfall |url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Central_Asia/JH19Ag01.html |work=Asia Times Online |publisher= |date=August 18, 2008 |accessdate=2008-08-18 ]

ee also

* You forgot Poland

References

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Janusz Reiter, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/28/AR2007082801439.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns The Visa Barrier] , Washington Post, August 29, 2007

Further reading

* Michalski, Artur;, "Poland’s Relations with the United States", Yearbook of Polish Foreign Policy (01/2005), [http://www.ceeol.com/aspx/issuedetails.aspx?issueid=af9f4c37-4c6b-4ec5-b5ab-8b429c035c08&articleId=2c9d62c0-483c-4c0d-afe9-7c901bf3ffec]