Commentary
Democratic Security
Buy American, Build European? CEE’s New Defence Strategy
7 October 2026
8 October 2026
Warsaw has caught up with Europe. Now it must decide what to do with its power.
This text is a transcribed version of Poland’s Vision of Europe’s Future keynote speech delivered by the author during the core programme of the Forum.
For most of the past 30 years, Poland’s vision of Europe was quite simple – we wanted to get there. We wanted to return to the West – to join NATO and the EU, gain access to the Single Market and Schengen and close the development gap with Western Europe. Politically, we wanted a seat at the table, and in terms of security, we wanted the protection and reassurance that membership in the transatlantic community would bring. In other words, much of Poland’s European story after 1989 was a story of catching up.