Poland is a complex ally. Some European partners have accused its populist leaders of going against democratic norms. Liberal Poles will seek to see a sign that America remembers its role in promoting democracy.
Biden’s 2-day visit follows a trio emergency summits in Brussels. It brought him to the country which has taken the largest share of more than 3.5million people fleeing Ukraine. Since the beginning of the month old war, more than 2.2 million people have fled to Poland. Many propose that they stay there.
The praise for Polish assistance to Ukrainians is widespread. Shelters and schools have opened their doors to refugee. 90,000 children registered to attend classes. Regular Poles have also welcomed Ukrainians into their homes. They may be taking in friends or complete strangers in some cases.
President Andrzej Duba, who is associated with a right-wing party accused of eroding democracy norms and who clearly preferred former U.S. president Donald Trump to Biden was ready to receive his American counterpart upon Air Force One arriving in Rzeszow. The city is about 70 km (45 miles) from Ukraine’s border.
Duda arrived late because of a technical issue with his plane. He had to land in Warsaw as an emergency landing. Biden had to alter his schedule to meet with Duda before briefings on the humanitarian crisis facing Ukrainians and American soldiers serving on NATO’s eastern flank.
He praised the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division members and said that they were fighting between democracy and dictatorship.
Biden met the soldiers. They are part of thousands of additional U.S. troops in Ukraine as a result of Russia’s war. These troops join thousands that have been deployed on a rotational basis since 2014, when Russia invaded Ukraine. Many Poles find their presence comforting. Russia’s March 13 strikes against the Yavoriv military facility in western Ukraine were close enough that they could be felt or seen by border communities.
Many Poles will also be waiting for a signal from Biden that Washington will not cease to encourage the Polish government to adhere to democratic values. They hope that this won’t be lost amid the urgent need for NATO unity in wartime NATO.
Biden made the comment during his election campaign that he mentioned Poland and Belarus along with Hungary to warn about “the rise in totalitarian regimes around the world.” This offense was taken by leaders in Poland who have become a haven for dissidents fleeing authoritarian Belarus.
Since 2015, when the Law and Justice party was governing, the European Union has accused Poland that it has eroded judicial independence. The EU regards political interference in the judiciary to be an attack on the fundamental democratic values of the 27-member bloc. It particularly objected to a Supreme Court body that has the power to suspend judges whose rulings are not approved by the government.
Recenty, the EU withheld millions from a Warsaw pandemic recovery fund to help them leverage their influence for change.
International criticism has been levelled at Poland’s government for its attempts to undermine media independence and for using Pegasus spyware to attack government critics.
The Justice Defense Committee in Poland, an umbrella group that includes independent judges and prosecutors, claimed in a March 13th letter to EU institutions that Polish authorities had “taken several measures to further undermine the rule of law” since the start of the conflict in Ukraine.
The government claims its behavior is not democratic, noting that they keep winning elections and saying that they are trying to reform an inefficient, corrupt court system.
Duda moved late last year to address a key U.S. concern by vetoing legislation which threatened to silence TVN, an independent broadcaster. This legislation would have required Discovery Inc., an American company that owns TVN to surrender its majority stake in the broadcaster, the largest U.S. investment ever in Poland.
Biden will not forget that Duda, and other Polish officials, were staunch supporters and ideological brethren to Trump, especially in opposition to the acceptance of migrants and refugees from the Middle East.
Duda was one of a few leaders, along with Russian President Vladimir Putin who waited weeks to congratulate Biden after he won 2020. They did so by taking a wait and see approach because Trump refused to accept defeat.
Duda suggested that the U.S. name it Fort Trump in 2018, when he asked for a permanent military base to be established in Poland.
This proposal was ridiculed in Europe, and it was quickly dropped. Poles still want a permanent U.S. base and a stronger military presence to protect against Russian aggression. They are hopeful that Biden’s visit will result in stronger military commitments.
Biden is scheduled to address the Polish people before he returns to Washington on Saturday.
According to the White House, he would deliver remarks about the joint efforts of the world to support Ukraine’s people, hold Russia responsible for its war crimes, and protect a future rooted in democratic principles.
