Poland Turning Away From Old Europe

On July 8–9, U.S., Canadian, and European leaders will gather in Warsaw for a NATO summit. The meeting matters a great deal to Poland’s governing conservative Law and Justice party. For the host, the summit is about demonstrating to Russia that the U.S.-led military alliance is now serious about increasing the security of its Eastern European allies.

But Poland’s commitment to NATO is at odds with its view of the European Union. Joining these two organisations was the country’s goal after 1989. Now, over a quarter of a century later, Poland is undertaking a radical change of direction that will have profound implications for the country and major repercussions for the EU.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: NATO Summit, Warsaw, 8-9 July 2016 http://www.europeansources.info/record/nato-summit-warsaw-8-9-july-2016/

ESO: Background information: NATO launches largest military exercise in Eastern Europe since Cold War http://www.europeansources.info/record/nato-launches-largest-military-exercise-in-eastern-europe-since-cold-war/

ESO: Background information: Commission adopts Rule of Law Opinion on the situation in Poland http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-commission-adopts-rule-of-law-opinion-on-the-situation-in-poland/

ESO: Background information: Poland: Europe's unlikely influencer http://www.europeansources.info/record/poland-europes-unlikely-influencer/

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