Polish Foreign and Security Policy: Dilemmas of Multi-National Integration and Alliance Cohesion, 1989-2005

In the post-9/11 era, US and European security interests have diverged. During the lead-up to the war in Iraq, this became unmistakable when the Europeans, Germany and France especially, suddenly began to question the nature of the terrorist threat and the militaristic US approach to it. Despite this fact, and its imp ending EU membership, Poland sided with the United States. While it was the subject of extensive criticism from its future EU patrons, the Polish government appeared oblivious to the potential that its long-held desire to enjoy the benefits of its ties with both Europe and the United States was now jeopardized by the rift between the two. In an uncertain world and among the new threats post-9/11, the Republic of Poland found itself confronted with the prospect of having to choose for the first time between its close relationship with the United States and its European ties. Despite Poland's participation in the war in Iraq and its initial steadfast opposition to the EU constitution, the apparent atlanticist foundation of Poland's security policy is only a temporary necessity. Poland will eventually fully return to Europe, where its economic and political interests already lie , and its security will be.