Poland: Background and Current Issues (CRS Report for Congress)
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| Release Date |
June 21, 2005 |
| Report Number |
RL32966 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
Carl Ek, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
Poland and the United States have enjoyed close relations, particularly since the terrorist attacks
of
September 11, 2001. Warsaw has been a reliable supporter and ally in the global war on terrorism
and has contributed troops to the U.S.-led coalitions in Afghanistan and in Iraq -- where it assumed
a leading role. Over the past year, however, many Poles have concluded that their country's
involvement in Iraq has increasingly become a political liability, particularly on the domestic front.
With elections scheduled for September 2005, the government has announced a phased troop
withdrawal. Some Poles have argued that, despite the human casualties and financial costs their
country has borne, their loyalty to the United States has gone unrewarded. Many hope that the Bush
Administration will respond favorably by providing increased military assistance, by awarding Iraq
reconstruction contracts to Polish firms, and by changing its visa policy.
Poland has had an eventful political scene in recent years. Since 2001, two prime ministers
have fallen. Many attribute these turnovers to a series of high-profile scandals. Although the current
government has steered the nation into the EU and nurtured a strong, export-based economy, polls
indicate that it may be replaced in the next elections. However, regardless of which parties form the
next government, Poland's foreign policy will not likely undergo drastic changes. Poland's
export-dependent economy has performed relatively well in recent years; the agricultural sector in
particular has responded positively to EU membership.
A NATO member since 1999, Poland has been restructuring and modernizing its military to
enable it to respond to out-of-area missions -- an alliance priority. Poland has sought to nurture
democracy in Ukraine and Belarus, and to normalize ties with Russia. Poland has been an active
member of NATO and, since May 2004, the European Union. Poland was not reluctant to assert
itself in a number of issue areas before joining the EU and will likely be even less hesitant to do so
now that it is a member. Some analysts argue that, if it continues on its current path, Poland may
well emerge as a leading nation in Europe. Although most analysts do not anticipate major changes
in Polish foreign policy in the near future, some believe that it is inevitable that Poland will draw
closer to the EU over the long term.
This report provides political and economic background on Poland and evaluates current issues
in U.S.-Polish and Polish-European relations. This report will be updated after Poland's 2005
elections. For additional information, see CRS Report RL32967 , Poland: Foreign Policy
Trends ,
by Carl Ek.
