Diaspora as Defender: Rising with Poland in a Time of Change
by: Brandon Tranquilli
For over a thousand years, Poland has been both a geographic crossroads and a historical bellwether. From the establishment of the Sejm in 1493, resisting imperial partitions and rising against communist oppression, the Polish nation has consistently demonstrated a fierce determination to survive, reform, and lead through democratic values. Its very survival has often depended on its alliances — or its abandonment by them.
Today, Poland again finds itself at an inflection point.
From Struggle to Strength: Poland’s Ascent in NATO
After the collapse of the Soviet bloc, Poland’s integration into NATO in 1999 marked a transformative shift from the periphery to the center of European security. It was a return to the Western world — not just symbolically, but through military commitment, democratic reform, and deepened economic ties.
In the decades since, Poland has rapidly become the most reliable and forward-leaning member of the alliance. It spends a higher percentage of its GDP on defense than any other NATO member, including the US — targeting 4.7% in 2025 — and hosts some of the alliance’s most strategic deployments, including U.S. troops, missile defense infrastructure, and rapid-response units.
At the same time, Poland’s internal strategic development goals — from infrastructure to cybersecurity and energy transformation — position it not just as a reactive security partner, but as an active shaper of the European future.
And yet, just as Poland’s moment of global responsibility arrives, the U.S. appears to be turning its gaze elsewhere.
The Recalibration of American Foreign Policy: An Inflection Point for Poland
The United States is signaling a shift in strategic priorities. As the Indo-Pacific rises in prominence and domestic pressures intensify, American foreign policy increasingly emphasizes competition with China and economic protectionism over European defense.
In 2025, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that America would no longer be “primarily focused” on European security, encouraging European nations to take on greater responsibility. Simultaneously, the State Department has proposed sweeping cuts to human rights offices abroad — a move widely interpreted as a downgrading of values-based diplomacy.
Even more troubling, there is growing ambivalence toward sustaining pressure on Russia. Former President Trump’s opposition to new and sustained economic deterrence, despite ongoing conflict in Ukraine, sent a chilling message to Eastern Europe: NATO unity may no longer be guaranteed.
For Poland, this is not just a diplomatic wrinkle — it is an existential challenge. If the U.S. shifts its strategic focus, who will fill the gap?
A Strategic Ally Needs a Strategic Diaspora
Enter the Polish-American community.
As this papers Editor-In-Chief, Waldemar Biniecki, noted in his April 2025 article “Will the Polish American Community Experience a Renaissance or Complete Decline and Assimilation?”, the Polish diaspora — over 10 million strong — remains a sleeping giant. Concentrated in key U.S. swing states like Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Illinois, the community holds political weight that could sway not only elections, but also foreign policy priorities.
But influence is not automatic. It must be built.
Biniecki rightly points out that while Polish Americans possess extraordinary intellectual and professional capacity — including academics, legal experts, business leaders, and civil society organizers — this potential has yet to be strategically harnessed. Unlike other diasporas, Polish Americans lack a coordinated lobbying structure capable of influencing U.S. policy at the highest levels.
If Poland’s future security and development depends, in part, on continued American support, then the Polish diaspora has both a responsibility and an opportunity to ensure that support remains strong.
The Path Forward: What the Diaspora Can Do
To turn cultural pride into political power, the Polish-American community must:
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Establish a National Coordinated Advocacy Group
Similar to AIPAC or the Armenian National Committee, Polish Americans need a bipartisan, professional lobbying presence in Washington focused exclusively on Poland’s strategic interests. -
Create Diaspora-Led Task Forces for Strategic Development Goals
The diaspora can organize around Poland’s stated goals — energy transition, border security, tech investment, and education — and offer expertise, funding, and networking. This moves Polish identity from symbolic heritage to strategic partnership. -
Invest in Leadership Development and Political Access
Promoting and supporting Polish-American leaders who can enter U.S. political spaces ensures that Poland is represented when key decisions are made — both locally and nationally.
Forge Academic, Cultural, and Defense Ties
Encourage U.S.-Poland student exchange programs, Polish-language preservation, and community ties to Polish think tanks, military institutions, and innovation centers.
What Poland Can Do to Strengthen Diaspora Partnerships
- The Polish government has long expressed appreciation for the contributions of its global diaspora. Cultural festivals, honorary recognitions, and local outreach programs have helped maintain ties between Poland and its communities abroad. Yet as Poland rises in global prominence — economically, militarily, and diplomatically — a new opportunity emerges to deepen those connections in more strategic, sustained ways.
To fully harness the potential of the diaspora in advancing Poland’s national goals, the government might consider the following actions:
Launch a Polish Government Diaspora Investment Initiative, similar to Israel Bonds or Ireland’s Global Irish initiative, allowing diaspora members to invest in Poland’s security and growth in tangible ways. -
Appoint a Minister or Ambassador for Diaspora Affairs with an expanded mandate and resources — ensuring coordination across ministries and more direct dialogue with diaspora leaders.
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Create an annual U.S.-Poland Strategic Forum in a major diaspora hub like Chicago or Washington, D.C. — inviting military experts, academics, cultural leaders, and Polish-American stakeholders to align priorities.
Support Cultural Literacy, and Recognition of Polish Descent, making it easier for Americans of Polish heritage to reconnect with their roots and contribute legally, culturally, and economically.
These steps would not only enhance Poland’s soft power but also reinforce the idea that being Polish is not limited by geography. They would allow millions of Poles abroad to serve as ambassadors, investors, and contributors to Poland’s long-term resilience — in security, economy, and culture.
Conclusion: Diaspora as Defender
In the 20th century, Poland’s diaspora helped build solidarity, funded anti-communist resistance, and lobbied for NATO expansion. In the 21st century, the stakes are no less urgent.
Today’s Poland is no longer recovering — it is rising. But its rise can be sustained only with consistent global support and internal resilience. As threats mount and alliances evolve, it is time for the Polish-American diaspora to move from remembrance to responsibility.
Security, prosperity, and national identity are no longer only the concern of those within Poland’s borders. The future of the Polish nation — its voice in NATO, its strength in the EU, its democratic values — will be shaped by how well its global sons and daughters choose to rise, organize, and lead from afar.
Sources:
Poland leads NATO defense spending with record 4.7% of GDP, Andrew Gray, Reuters.com, 2024-10-23
Poland warns of global conflict risk, calls for EU defense focus, Reuters.com, 2024-11-22
U.S. urges Europe to boost defense as America shifts focus, Reuters.com, 2025-02-14
Polish-American political power could shape foreign policy, Reuters.com, 2025-05-28
Poland presidential hopeful criticizes Trump’s Russia stance, Bloomberg.com, 2025-02-15
Will the Polish American Community Experience a Renaissance or Complete Decline and Assimilation?, Waldemar Biniecki, Kuryer Polski, 2025-04-01
Brandon Tranquilli
Brandon Tranquilli is a 30-year-old Polish American from New Jersey, currently living abroad in Mexico. Deeply passionate about foreign policy and Eastern European affairs, he actively engages with issues affecting the transatlantic alliance and Poland’s strategic future. He honors his Polish heritage through cultural participation, historical preservation efforts, and contributions to Polish-American publications and organizations.
