Even if the Americans do not actually invade Greenland, the very fact that they brazenly demand that foreign territory be transferred to them means that we can no longer count on the USA as a guarantor of international order. However, we can now say with complete certainty that Trump is a disaster from Poland's point of view. From Russia's point of view, it is the fulfillment of the Kremlin's most far-reaching dreams.
“Laws and rules have no meaning”
No American president has done so much to undermine NATO unity. None came this close breaking the pact, which is the basis of Poland's securityi. The same basis for security is the so-called rule based international order, i.e international order based on international law and rules of conduct.
For Trump, law and rules have no meaning. In his world, international order is to be decided only by superpowers. The problem is that Poland is not a superpower. Russia, on the other hand – at least from Trump's point of view – does.
The paradox is that what Donald Trump is doing does not benefit the United States either. The Americans are, of course, still the world's first superpower, but at the same time they are no longer able to exercise actual rule over the entire planet on their own. Even Trump himself admits this. But it didn't matter, because until now American power had been multiplied by alliance systems. Now, with admirable consistency, Trump is dismantling and weakening these pacts.
The beneficiary of Trump's insane policy is certainly Russia, which dreamed of NATO creaking at the seams.
Trump's arrogance cannot be tolerated. Macron and Carney show the way
From a European point of view, it is obvious that Trump's arrogance can no longer be tolerated. The current method of dealing with Trump, i.e. hoping that he can be bought with flattery, clearly no longer works.
A hint of a direction that not only Europeans but also Canadians can take, This is what was made very clear in the speeches in Davos by French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
They both made it clear that if the situation had changed dramatically and the United States could no longer be counted on, perhaps it would be time to play with China. The US cannot effectively pursue a policy of containing Beijing without Europe and other allies such as Canada.
So when the American administration tells Europe that it sees no reason to continue supporting Ukraine because Russia is no threat to the United States, perhaps Europe should clearly tell the Americans that China, on the other hand, is no threat to Europe.
And if so, we can, with equal contempt for the values shown by Americans today, cooperate with the Chinese. After all, if values don't matter to Americans, why should they matter to Europeans? If allied loyalty doesn't matter to Americans, why should it matter to Europeans?
Poland has a big problem
In the case of Poland, there is one problem. Yes, we are Europeans, but for now there are about 10,000 stationed on our territory. American soldiers. Not French, British, German or other European ones. We assume that in the event of a Russian attack, the Americans will defend us. This requires caution.
The problem is that there is more and more evidence that Trump does not aim to stop Russia, but on the contrary – he is trying to communicate with it. For now, at the expense of Ukraine. But if Americans are now making far-reaching concessions to the Kremlin regarding Ukraine, won't they tomorrow apply to Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius and, to recall the prophetic words of Lech Kaczyński, “and later maybe it's time for my country, Poland!”
Just a week ago, I would have written that our country, taking into account the presence of American forces in Poland, should behave as restrained as possible – not send troops to Greenland, and in the dispute between Europe and the United States, stand aside and play both sides as long as possible.
However, the situation changed when Donald Trump invited the so-called Peace Council of Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko.
This gesture means one thing: another reset with Russia. Karol Nawrocki, who was also invited to the Peace Council, seems to be aware of this. This is probably why the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland decided to coordinate its policy with the government on this matter.
Poland must choose: Europe or reset with Russia?
Rejecting the American invitation will involve certain risks. Adopting it also carries a lot of risk, because it means a reset with Russia. The previous reset with Moscow was a mistake. This one would be a crime.
The reset with Russia makes us ask ourselves whether the American military presence in Poland is permanent? Or maybe it – like the American military presence in Jasionka near Rzeszów – may one day come to an end.
Perhaps the Americans should finally be asked a fundamental question whether they are here to stay or whether the next step after suspending aid to Ukraine will be the withdrawal of American troops from our country.
If we do not receive a clear answer to this question, we should stop standing on the sidelines in the conflict between the US and Europe.
Who knows, maybe the best guide on how to talk to Donald Trump today is provided by the American classic film, “The Godfather.” In one of the scenes of the second part of this legendary trilogy, Michael Corleone, at the request of Senator Pat Geary, who expects a bribe, replies that he can immediately respond to his demands and states: “My offer is as follows. Nothing. Zero.” This is exactly what Europe should offer the United States today.
The only question is whether Poland should sign such a response or just discreetly support its creation.
