Barack Obama at Impact Congress. Important words about relations between Europe and the USA
Barack Obama also referred to the situation in Poland, assessing that the right approach is the one in which “Progressive forces“They create a wide coalition, try to understand more conservative communities.”If you want to be effective, you need to listen to the perspectives of others” – he said.
In the conversation, which was conducted by the American historian prof. Timothy Snyder I who crowned the 10th edition of the Poznań Congress of Impact, Obama referred to American politics, but not mentioning even once by the name of President Donald Trump.
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“I do not think that it is a secret that I do not agree with some decisions that are currently taken by Washington” – he said briefly.
He emphasized that there is one message that he would love to convey, being “on this side of the Atlantic”.
“The basic sense of solidarity that most Americans feel against Europe is not dependent on our administration, but on our people” – he said.
He added when the Americans see “incredible generosity“, which Poland showed Ukrainians escaping from the war, gives them hope.
“This moment teaches us one thing after all – that progress in democracy, in human rights (…), all these great things, cannot be a work only the US” – said the former president. He added that Europeans must also realize that they cannot “just count on the US in the field of defense.”
Obama stated that the world order that raised us was “carved from the fire of World War II”, but since then the world has integrated so much that old structures no longer match it. In his opinion, despite the current political situation of the US, they still have a role to play in their strengthening.
Referring to the phenomenon of polarization, he considered the ideas of radical right to be “dangerous”, but he admitted that the errors were also made by leftist and centro -leather environments, which – as he noted – did not want to compromise. “Many young people (…) think that if someone disagrees with us, they must be a racist, sexist or homophobe. (…) I think that this pushed some of the voters to the second camp, because people do not want to be instructed or treated as fools” – he noted.
According to Obama, the right approach in this regard was taken by the “center of the center” in Poland, which in 2023 concluded a wide election coalition.
“I think that progressive forces in Poland were right, trying to understand conservative, deeply religious, mostly rural communities. If you want to be effective and build wide coalitions, which can then actually push your projects forward, you must also listen to the perspectives of others ” – he emphasized.
The former president noted that hearing the perspective of the second, even the hostile side is also necessary in the international arena – in this context he mentioned his relations with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
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“I think that my vision of the world is better, and it leads to war, bestiality and gulags (…) However, partly because I listened and understood its perspective, we were able to conclude a nuclear agreement with Iran, which Russia supported, and Putin even agreed to suspend the sale of the Iran of the anti -cancer defense system, which would potentially cause actions from Israel and earlier War in the Middle East” – he said.
Obama also referred to the fall of communism in Central and Eastern Europe, indicating that the Solidarity Movement was an inspiration for his faith in the possibility of change. “This is not the first time that the Americans should have been inspired by the outside world, that the fights that took place here in Central and Eastern Europe inspired America as well as – I hope – part of the fight with the past that works in America,” he said.
Impact Congress in Poznań
Impact is a two -day event with the participation of over 650 invited guests is devoted to, among others Issues of geopolitics, digital future, finance, security and cyber security, as well as green economics and issues of mental health. At the international Poznań Fair on Wednesday and Thursday about 6,000 Participants have the opportunity to listen to speeches and debates taking place in total on ten stages. The organizers divided the program into 23 thematic paths.
Impact guests include Leading Polish entrepreneurs who debate, among others About the role of our continent during the World Changes. There are also topics related to the opportunities of Polish companies on global markets and challenges related to new technologies, including AI in the economy or science. Part of the debates and discussions are also devoted to issues related to global security after Russia's full -scale aggression on Ukraine.
