Poland's President-Elect Nawrocki pledges to prioritize US alliance
3 Min Read
Seeking to shore up his mandate, Tusk announced a parliamentary confidence vote scheduled for June 11.
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Presidential candidate Karol Nawrocki, a conservative historian backed by the right-wing Law and Justice party addresses supporters at his headquarters after the presidential election runoff in Warsaw, Poland, Sunday, June 1, 2025 (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)
Poland's newly elected president, Karol Nawrocki, has pledged to make the country's alliance with the United States a top foreign policy priority, emphasizing his commitment to close cooperation with Washington.
The 42-year-old conservative, who has expressed admiration for former US President Donald Trump, was backed by the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party and campaigned on a platform of national sovereignty and traditional values.
Responding Tuesday on X to Trump's congratulatory message, posted earlier on Truth Social in which Trump said Poland had "picked a winner", Nawrocki wrote: "Thank you, Mr. President. Strong alliance with the USA, as well as partnership based on close cooperation are my top priorities."
Thank you, Mr. President. Strong alliance with the USA, as well as partnership based on close cooperation are my top priorities. @POTUS pic.twitter.com/x8cjTQTsBi
, Karol Nawrocki (@NawrockiKn) June 3, 2025
According to final results from the Polish election commission, Nawrocki secured 50.89% of the vote in Sunday's runoff election, narrowly defeating the liberal candidate Rafal Trzaskowski, who garnered 49.11%. The result has set the stage for a tense power dynamic in Warsaw, as Prime Minister Donald Tusk's pro-EU government faces new political headwinds.
Seeking to shore up his mandate, Tusk announced a parliamentary confidence vote scheduled for June 11. "Some things can be done better, faster. And this vote of confidence should be a new beginning: offensive, not defensive," Tusk told reporters, amid opposition claims that the election result signaled public disapproval of his administration.
Polarizing presidency
Nawrocki's victory has been welcomed by European far-right leaders and has already prompted concerns in Brussels over potential clashes with the European Union on judicial reform, civil liberties, and the rule of law, areas in which the PiS-aligned president is expected to take a more confrontational stance. He has also sparked unease among Polish allies in Kiev, opposing NATO membership for Ukraine and calling for reduced support for Ukrainian refugees.
Outgoing President Andrzej Duda expressed optimism that Nawrocki would continue strengthening Poland's military and deepening ties with the United States. Meanwhile, US officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have expressed support for Nawrocki's transatlantic posture.
Read more: Nawrocki wins Polish presidential election in blow to pro-EU gov.
As Nawrocki prepares to assume office on August 6, political analysts suggest his presidency could push Poland toward greater domestic polarization and strain the relationship between the executive and Tusk's centrist government. "Nawrocki's presidency will be a rough ride for the Tusk government," analyst Piotr Buras told AFP, warning of a potential path toward early parliamentary elections in the near future.
