Tusk: Europe must “believe we are a global power” and achieve “defence independence”

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Notes from Poland is run by a small editorial team and is published by an independent, non-profit foundation that is funded through donations from our readers. We cannot do what we do without your support.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk has pledged Poland’s continued support for Ukraine in its war with Russia ahead of a conference of European leaders in London today.

However, he also emphasised the importance of maintaining a close alliance with the United States and argued that the best way to do this is for Europe to start “believing that we are a global power” and to attain “defence independence”.

Tusk’s remarks came amid the ongoing fallout from Volodymr Zelensky’s confrontational meeting with Donald Trump in the White House on Friday. That was followed on Saturday by Trump’s close associate Elon Musk calling for the US to leave NATO and the United Nations.

“In the Ukrainian-Russian war, Poland stands on Ukraine’s side – no ifs, ands or buts – not only because human decency requires it, but also for our security,” said Tusk, speaking on the tarmac before flying to London for a summit to discuss the war in Ukraine with leaders from Europe and Canada.

“The Polish national interest requires unequivocal and lasting support for Ukraine in its defence against Russian aggression,” he added. Poland has been among Ukraine’s strongest allies since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, providing significant military, humanitarian and diplomatic support.

However, Tusk also emphasised Poland’s position as among Europe’s firmest advocates for strong transatlantic ties. “We Poles are supporters of the closest possible alliance between Poland, Europe and the entire West with the United States,” he said.

“We support Ukraine and we strengthen our alliance with the United States – no matter how difficult the circumstances are,” continued the Polish prime minister, who also served as president of the European Council from 2014 to 2019.

During a visit to Warsaw last month, Trump’s new defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, called Poland a “model ally” and pledged to “reinforce” Polish-US relations.

But while “speaking about the necessity of the closest possible alliance with the USA, we also know that Poland must buy an additional insurance policy”, added Tusk today. “This means European armaments, the military and defence independence of Europe. Independence – not isolation.”

“Europe is a power,” he emphasised. “It will not be an alternative to America, but its most desirable ally. President Trump wants Europe to shoulder responsibility for its own security…We have to rely on ourselves, being fully aware of our own potential and believing that we are a global power.”

Tusk pointed out that, together with Ukraine, Europe has 2.6 million soldiers compared to 1.3 million in the US and 1.1 million in Russia, as well as more fighter jets, according to data from the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

“Today in Europe we have a deficit of imagination and courage. Europe must understand its strength,” he continued. “A strong Europe, confident in its strength, well prepared to defend its borders, is a Europe that can guarantee peace.”

Tusk said that at the London summit he would “loudly demand that all European countries think about how to strengthen our [eastern] flank, and that European troops should be much more present in Finland, the Baltic states and on our [Poland’s] border with Russia and Belarus”.

Poland, both under the Tusk government and its Law and Justice (PiS) predecessor, has long called on its allies to bolster defences on NATO’s eastern flank and to increase defence spending. Poland itself will spend 4.7% of GDP on defence this year, the highest relative level in NATO.

Notes from Poland is run by a small editorial team and published by an independent, non-profit foundation that is funded through donations from our readers. We cannot do what we do without your support.

Main image credit: KPRM/Flickr (under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Daniel Tilles

Daniel Tilles is editor-in-chief of Notes from Poland. He has written on Polish affairs for a wide range of publications, including Foreign Policy, POLITICO Europe, EUobserver and Dziennik Gazeta Prawna.