Following the recent shooting of a Chinese Balon, we see another instalment of an international rivalry between the U. S. and China. This time, once again, the main line of disagreement becomes Tik Tok.

Recently under the Biden administration, having TikTok on a device issued by the federal government has become illegal. Currently, U. S. leads the list of countries such as U. K. New Zealand, Denmark, Belgium, and Canada that have banned or are intended to restrict the use of Tik Tok on government devices. Moreover, on March 16, the same Democratic administration demanded that Chines withdraw its TikTok stakes or face a possible U.S. ban.

• Read more: Arch foes Iran, Saudi Arabia Agree to Restore Ties

The TikTok rhetoric is a continuation of the narrative that Donald Trump initiated. Under the recent republican administration, banning TikTok was considered by progressives as a radical concept that would lead to the polarization of society. Interestingly, this time under a Democratic administration, the proposition has returned with redoubled significance, and this time it might have been seen as a unifying idea for Republicans and Democrats. 

TikTok currently has around 100 million users in the U. S. alone. The app is an example of the global success of Chinese capital, which has managed to dominate an industry hitherto the exclusive domain of the U. S. This success is mainly due to TikTok's innovative data collection system, which analyses a broad spectrum of human behaviour.

TikTok's rapid expansion coincides with the ongoing deglobalisation and nationalisation of the internet. China is one of the pioneers in building its closed network. Countries like Russia and Iran are following China's footsteps.

• Read more: One year later, U.S. stands with Ukraine

Analysing the attempts to oust TikTok from the markets of the U. S. and Western countries, it is worth mentioning the prohibition of Western internet platforms from operating within China. The unfettered access to the Western internet by Chinese technology companies makes the access to sensitive data between China and the West unbalanced.

After February's shooting of a Chinese Balloon over America, there is broad public support for attempts to limit Chinese influence in the democratic world. The shared vision of negative TikTok's influence and spying role brings Democrats and Republicans closer together. Ironically, the TikTok affair shows that in democratic societies, nothing unites like a common enemy.

Author:

Szymon Polewka is a student of international relations at the Jagiellonian University in Kraków, specializing in the history of international relations, the Eurasian region, DACHL countries, intercultural relations, and the energy sector. He is currently on a scholarship at the University of Bremen. He has gained experience organizing the 2020 Economic Forum in Karpacz and numerous youth and student associations, such as AIESEC or Koło Naukowe Wyzwań Zielonego Ładu.

This article was written as part of the statutory activities of the Polish think tank Warsaw Institute. If you appreciate the content prepared by our partner, we appeal to you for financial support for this non-profit organisation.

More information:
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Saudi Arabia and Iran announced that they had agreed to reestablish diplomatic ties after seven years of hostility. The agreement came after Chinese-brokered talks held in Beijing, which could raise the ire of Washington.

Archrivals Iran and Saudi Arabia have long competed to win dominance in the Middle East. They each follow one of the two main branches of Islam––Iran is largely Shia Muslim, while Saudi Arabia sees itself as the leading Sunni Muslim state. Riyadh cut ties with Tehran after Iranian protesters attacked Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran in 2016 following the Saudi execution of the revered Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr. In response, Iranian protesters ransacked and set fire to the Saudi embassy in Tehran.

• Read more: One year later, U.S. stands with Ukraine

Negotiations between Saudi Arabia and Iran were on for a long time but seemed to be at a standstill while Riyadh remained somewhat hesitant. The deal thus came as a surprise. As a result of the talks, Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to resume diplomatic relations and reopen embassies within two months. The two states pledged to respect each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Riyadh and Tehran also agreed to reactivate a 2001 security cooperation agreement, as well as a general economy, trade and investment agreement signed in 1998, according to the joint statement. Top Iranian and Saudi diplomats will also meet soon.

The deal is also a diplomatic victory for China and its leader Xi Jinping. It was a thumb of the nose to Washington whose diplomats somewhat downplay the role of China in the deal while focusing on the civil war in Yemen. "To the degree that this arrangement can lead to an end to the war in Yemen, to the degree that it can help prevent Saudi Arabia from having to defend itself against Iran-inspired attacks (…) If this deal can be sustained, and the war in Yemen can end, and Saudi Arabia does not have to continually try to defend itself against attacks from the Houthis who are funded and supported by Iran, in the end, we welcome that," U.S. National Security Council John Kirby told journalists.

• Read more: U.S. President Joe Biden Arrives In Kyiv And Warsaw

The war in Yemen began in 2014 and has killed some 400,000 people. Over 3.5 million people were forcibly displaced from their homes. Some 80 percent of the whole population of 33 million are now living below the poverty line, according to UNICEF. Both Saudi Arabia and Iran are deeply embroiled in Yemen's yearslong civil war. Their interests often clashed in many domains and ties with other states, including Israel. Reduced tensions between Riyadh and Tehran could have repercussions in other Middle Eastern countries.

Author:

Dawid Krupa is a fourth-year law student at the Faculty of Law and Administration at Warsaw University. He has worked with various cultural institutions such as the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews, the Warsaw Uprising Museum and the Forum for Dialogue Foundation. His interests include national politics, international relations, religious studies and gardening.

This article was written as part of the statutory activities of the Polish think tank Warsaw Institute. If you appreciate the content prepared by our partner, we appeal to you for financial support for this non-profit organisation.

More information:
www.warsawinstitute.org/support/

Monday, February 20, 2023, the world was startled by the news of John Biden's visit to Kyiv. Some experts described it as a surprise trip to the capital of embattled Ukraine. The visit had a highly symbolic significance emphasising Ukraine's resistance to the world's second army. Biden in Kyiv, commemorated the first anniversary of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine and highlighted the role of the Central and Eastern European region.

“One year later, Kyiv stands,” Biden declared after meeting Zelenskyy at Mariinsky Palace. The declaration appreciates Ukraine's efforts to defend its sovereignty against Russian aggression. At the same time, the significance of this symbolic visit successively underlines the Ukrainian detachment from the vision of the Russkiy Mir (Russian world).

• Read more: U.S. President Joe Biden Arrives In Kyiv And Warsaw

Biden's Visit to Ukraine Is the First by a Sitting U.S. President Since 2008. It's worth noticing that 2008 heavily dominated Fukuyama's paradigm of the end of history. Today's reality leans towards a multipolar world with unstructured borders. In present-day Ukraine, the new battleground for the future shape of the new-powers sphere of influence is taking place. Observing this clash of superpowers, one can notice the use of different methods. For instance, Russia uses war cards to preserve the remnants of the old imperial influence zones.

After U. S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, characterising the beginning of Biden's administration, another strong U. S. military aid effort seemed to be impossible. Despite this, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in March 2022, 74% of American adults declared support for helping Ukraine. Recent polls show that support for military aid to Ukraine remains high at 51%. Additionally, 42% of Americans support the Biden administration's response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. U. S. polls indicate strong interest in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

• Read more: The baloon escalation

The significance of the Central and Eastern European region has grown by Biden’s omission, from his latest Euro-tour, the countries of the old European Union and the U. K., in which capitals such as Berlin, London and Paris mostly stood out. The recent precedent in Biden's combined visit to Kyiv and Warsaw helps to establish the Central and Eastern European region in an equal political position with the Western part of the old continent.

Author:

Szymon Polewka is a student of international relations at the Jagiellonian University in Kraków, specializing in the history of international relations, the Eurasian region, DACHL countries, intercultural relations, and the energy sector. He is currently on a scholarship at the University of Bremen. He has gained experience organizing the 2020 Economic Forum in Karpacz and numerous youth and student associations, such as AIESEC or Koło Naukowe Wyzwań Zielonego Ładu.

This article was written as part of the statutory activities of the Polish think tank Warsaw Institute. If you appreciate the content prepared by our partner, we appeal to you for financial support for this non-profit organisation.

More information:
www.warsawinstitute.org/support/

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Britain and Poland have had a great bilateral relationship since the medieval period. No wonder both countries have a good relationship and mingle well. As such, you should not be surprised if you see Polish people in the UK and vice versa.

Currently, there are about 800,000 native Polish speakers in the United Kingdom, making up over 1% of the population, unlike other languages that do not make up 1%. Polish is England's second most spoken language, with English coming first and Romania being the third. This makes the demand for polish-speakers in the UK job sector to be on the high side, making it easier to get jobs for Polish speakers easily.

However, it is worth noting that despite the widespread Polish speakers in the UK, the demand for Polish-speaking employees is not the same across all industries. For instance, there is a high demand for polish speaking nannies and caregivers, while there is rare demand for them in the automobile and medical industries. Therefore, knowing your likely employers before filtering your job search to reveal only Polish-speaking jobs is essential.

To further enlighten you on this discussion, we have collaborated with experts from job aggregator Jooble to give you a starting point. We have researched the top jobs for Polish speakers in the UK. We will not only discuss the full-time onsite jobs available for Polish speakers, but we will also talk about the remote and part-time jobs. Let’s delve right into it.

Best Jobs For Polish Speakers In The UK

There are many jobs for Polish speakers in the UK, about 12,000. However, you need to know what to look for, what to prepare, and where to look when finding a job.

Below are some of the most in-demand jobs for Polish speakers in the UK:

1.Translators And Interpreters

Translation is one of the most popular jobs for Polish speakers in the UK. This can be a remote job as well as a part-time job. Some companies also employ professionals to be their in-house translators. Translation deals with text materials, and it is well paid for. English-to-Polish and Polish-to-English translators can earn as low as $15 per hour and as high as $40.

Interpreters are also like translators. However, they only deal with speech, while translators deal with texts. Translators and interpreters must be fluent in both languages. Some employers can also demand a certificate to prove the candidate’s competency, especially for translators.

2.Housekeepers/Caregivers

Other popular jobs for Polish speakers are housekeeper and caregiver jobs. Many jobs are under this, including nanny, adult live-in caregiver, housekeeper, etc. The essential qualification for these roles is the ability to speak the required language and take care of the people they are assigned to. People employ Polish-speaking nannies and housekeepers to ensure the language is spoken around their family and for them to learn it.

3.Teaching Assistants

Being a teaching assistant is one of the education-requiring jobs for Polish speakers in the UK. They are required to be a supporting system to students who just relocated and therefore are not familiar with the English environment and language. A Polish teaching assistant needs not only to be fluent in English and Polish but also to be adequately educated for the role.

4.Admin Assistants

Another office job that a Polish speaker can get in the UK is being an office assistant. Their duty can range from helping Polish clients with their business to providing essential regular office assistant duties. The minimum educational requirement for this role is a high school diploma or a GED certificate.

5.Cleaners

Like housekeepers and nannies, polish-speaking cleaners are also highly demanded. It is a  highly demanded job, and over 1000 vacancy advertisements for cleaners are posted on top job search websites like Jooble.

Conclusion

The relationship between the UK and Poland has existed for a while. Therefore, it is unsurprising that Polish is the second most-spoken native Language after English. With Polish people widely spread in the UK, the demand for jobs for Polish Speakers has also risen. However, not all jobs are available for them in the country. This article discusses the five polish-speaking jobs mostly in demand in the UK.

U.S. President Joe Biden traveled to Poland and Ukraine on February 20–23. While the White House announced Biden would visit Poland, the U.S. leader traveled into a war zone in Ukraine amid a cloak of secrecy. In Kyiv, he met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky while in Warsaw he addressed Poles in a speech and attended an extraordinary summit of the Bucharest Nine.

After touching down in Poland, President Biden traveled covertly by train to the besieged Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. President Biden made a surprise trip to the capital of embattled Ukraine on February 20, also to mark the Day of Commemoration of the Heavenly Hundred to remember around 100 protesters killed in Maidan in 2014. The Ukrainian president, his wife Olena, and the U.S. leader participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at the foot of a memorial to Ukraine's "Heavenly Hundred." The visit to Ukraine marked a historic trip for a U.S. president to a war-stricken country with no U.S. military present. Biden said his visit was intended to reaffirm American backing for Ukraine's sovereignty. Biden added a coalition of nations for the Atlantic to the Pacific was formed to fend off the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The U.S. leader also announced a significant new package of security assistance for Ukraine to include artillery ammunition and anti-tank missiles. "This conversation brings us closer to victory," Zelensky said, speaking alongside Biden.

• Read more: The baloon escalation

The Polish and U.S. leaders and other officials met the next day in Warsaw to discuss stability and security in the region due to military and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. The U.S.-Polish alliance also surged on the agenda.

A remarkable moment was when Joe Biden held a speech in front of the Royal Castle in Warsaw. Typically for U.S. leaders, Biden referred to core values including democracy, freedom, and sovereignty, saying it is key to stand guard over them in this new world. Biden thanked Poles for their willingness to open hearts and homes to the people of Ukraine. He also reiterated NATO allies' commitment to supporting Ukraine “for as long as it takes.” It is the only way to ensure the restoration of peace and security in the region, he claimed.

Joe Biden met with leaders of the eastern flank of NATO, or the Bucharest Nine, on Wednesday. Other attendees included NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, the presidents of Bulgaria, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, and Hungary as well as the Czech prime minister. NATO's eastern flank countries condemned Moscow's war on Ukraine, pledging a stronger NATO presence on the eastern wing of the alliance. The U.S. leader also reaffirmed Washington's support to allies.

• Read more: Joe Biden's State of the Union Address

Biden visited Poland and Ukraine in a show of support. The timing of Biden's trip was hardly a coincidence––the U.S. leader visited Poland and Ukraine a day before the one-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The visit also coincided with Putin's address to the Federal Assembly. Biden's trip to Poland and Ukraine made headlines around the world. A Tagesspiegel article said it was quite visible that the center of gravity had moved here to Warsaw from Berlin while the visit was arguably the most consequential made by any US president to a European country since the end of the cold war, according to The Guardian.

Author: 

Dawid Krupa is a fourth-year law student at the Faculty of Law and Administration at Warsaw University. He has worked with various cultural institutions such as the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews, the Warsaw Uprising Museum and the Forum for Dialogue Foundation. His interests include national politics, international relations, religious studies and gardening.

This article was written as part of the statutory activities of the Polish think tank Warsaw Institute. If you appreciate the content prepared by our partner, we appeal to you for financial support for this non-profit organisation.

More information:
www.warsawinstitute.org/support/

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In response to the rising gambling addiction rates, GambleAware has committed £2 million through their Aftercare Funding Program (AFP) to fund 10 organizations across Great Britain to help provide additional support to individuals who have experienced gambling-related harms. 

Britain is the world’s biggest regulated online gambling market, and one of the most liberalized. Unlike more visible addictions, problem gambling is fairly easy to hide, yet nonetheless leaves an estimated 1.4 million Brits annually feeling alone, ashamed and, in many cases, broke. Unfortunately, UK authorities largely rely on addicts themselves to exercise safer gambling habits by self-excluding from gambling websites once they discover that they gave a problem.

The country’s attempts to curb the gambling addiction epidemic have continuously failed, resulting in hundreds of suicides. This is becoming increasingly worrying as the industry continues to grow contributing approximately  £7.1 billion to the local economy and supporting more than 100,000 jobs. 

Equipping people with the tools to get help and the proper care to curtail or halt their addictive behavior is vital. However the challenge is ever present, because while the problem continues to grow, this does not negate the fact that online casinos keep advertising promotions such as free no deposit casino bonuses UK. And, despite the fact that providers do so within the legal parameters, this simply does not nullify the necessity to continue the uphill battle responsible gambling campaigns face.

Organization Selection

In order to determine which organizations would receive the funding, GambleAware conducted a thorough selection process, involving a panel of experts including two members who experienced the hardships of gambling addiction first-hand. Participating organizations were expected to detail how they would utilize the funds to aid individuals' recovery from gambling harm including developing their self-confidence and improving their practical skills. 

Through their Aftercare Funding Program (AFP), GambleAware offered two levels of funding, with smaller or newly established organizations eligible for up to £150,000 while larger more seasoned organizations could secure up to £350,000 to continue to support their work further. In fact, one of the successful applicants Cyreians, a charity which focuses on tackling the homeless crisis in Edinburgh, plans to use the funding to provide one-to-one group trauma-informed support. While another selected organization Acta Community Theatre in Bristol will offer a creative peer support group which will be available for individuals at all stages of recovery. 

Lived Experience Council 

GambleAware launched its lived experience council to support its short and long-term plans. Comprised of individuals who have either personally suffered at the hands of gambling harms or were affected by other people’s gambling habits, the council acts as an advisory board reviewing GambleAware’s activities, programs and strategic development. As such, the council helps GambleAware’s commitment to building a collaborative community in order to develop the best solutions for the communities most in need. 

Community Support

GambleAware set up its Aftercare Funding program in order to provide individuals suffering from gambling-related harm with long-term support to help facilitate a sustainable recovery plan to help them take back control of their lives. 

Research commissioned by the organization and conducted by Ipsos UK and ClearView Research, revealed minority groups are more susceptible to forms of gambling harm than the white British majority, as they use the industry as a coping mechanism to deal with difficulties they face, such as racial discrimination, living in the UK. 

As a response to their findings, GambleAware announced it would distribute £1.2m to 22 organizations across Great Britain through its Community Resilience Fund, which was launched last year following the cost of living crisis to provide support to people from deprived areas who are three times more likely to fall victim to gambling woes that more affluent communities. GambleAware’s commitment does not stop there. The organization has also recently supplied the Gambling Lived Experience Network (GLEN) with a £375,000 grant through its community-based development partner ExpertLink. The grant will cover the production of tools and resources as well as funding research projects which will support GLEN’s future growth. 

Additionally, GambleAware’s funding will also enable GLEN to continue to participate in political discussions and discourse providing their members with a voice. 
 

On Saturday, February 04, 2023, the U.S. Air Force F-22 stealth jet fighter shot down what the U.S. identified as a Chinese surveillance balloon off the coast of South Carolina. Similar events involving unidentified Chinese balloons have happened before, but this incident has a symbolic significance. The shot-down balloon becomes the next escalation point in relations between the U. S. and China.

For many, the beginning of Joe Biden's Presidency brought hope for a new Détente in the relationship between the U. S. and China. The meeting between Joe Biden and Xi Jinping, which took place in Bali, Indonesia (November 14, 2022), was supposed to confirm improved relations between the countries[1]. However, the onset of the Ukrainian war and Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan (2-3 August 2022) again deteriorated the relationship between the U. S. and China. Moreover, the kinetic shootdown of the Chinese balloon could become an irreversible process confirming the divorce between the two powers.

• Read more: Joe Biden's State of the Union Address

It is worth noticing a directness in the communication of incident by the U. S. administration, which directly draws attention to Chinese interference without diplomatic cover[2]. The position of U. S. administration is best reflected in the Latin maxim vox populi, vox Dei (The voice of the people is the voice of God). Vox populi (The voice of the people) refers here to the U. S. citizens who starts to perceive China as an imminent threat to the U. S. position [3]. Due to circumstances, Secretary of State Antony Blinken postponed a visit to Beijing scheduled for the beginning of February. Moreover, some believe that Chinese balloon episode coincided with the mass sky paranoia that has recently engaged the American public opinion[4].

The Chinese balloon incident recently renewed the American public's interest in China and the Indo-Pacific region. This incident coincides with Russian preparations for an offensive into Ukraine. Furthermore, The American distraction from the war in Ukraine is a natural advantage for Moscow, which is additionally taking advantage of the recent earthquake in Turkey and Syria.

In the coming time, we will see an increase in various incidents, including kinetic ones, coming both out of the Russian and Chinese sites. These upcoming events will be a test for the United States, NATO and signatories of the AUKUS security pact. At this point, the U. S. remains the only Superpower able to have the global influence of power in any corner of the world. The Cold War proved that the U. S. could handle competition in a bipolar world. The upcoming Cold War of the second generation will remain a test for the U. S. and the entire Western world in dealing with crises caused by a new multipolar reality.

This test will be a challenge for Europe, which used to operate under the security umbrella of the United States. Assuming a potential escalation of tension between the U. S. and China raises the question of whether Europe alone will be able to cope with the increasing threat posed by the Russian Federation and Middle Eastern rising fundamentalism.

Author:

Szymon Polewka
International relations student at Jagiellonian University, specializing in the history of international relations, the Eurasian area, DACHL countries, intercultural relations and energy. He is currently on a scholarship at the University of Bremen. Szymon gained experience in the organization of the Economic Forum 2020 and in numerous youth organizations and study circles: AIESEC or the Scientific Circle of the Challenges of the Green Deal.

This article was written as part of the statutory activities of the Polish think tank Warsaw Institute. If you appreciate the content prepared by our partner, we appeal to you for financial support for this non-profit organisation.

More information:
www.warsawinstitute.org/support/

U.S. President Joe Biden’s state of the union address mostly concentrated on domestic issues, with geopolitical turmoil being somewhat of secondary importance. When tackling foreign affairs, Biden focused mostly on Ukraine and U.S-China rivalry.

The president touted bipartisan laws, including those to foster investments to build infrastructure, tackle climate change, and make semiconductors. In his address, Biden said the pandemic and Putin's war in Ukraine disrupted energy and food supplies, yet added that the United States is better positioned than any country across the globe. Biden also announced the biggest overhaul of America's economy in decades. "For too many decades, we imported products and exported jobs. Now, thanks to all we have done, we're exporting American products and creating American jobs. We are making sure the supply chain for America begins in America," he stated. All materials for $1 trillion worth of state investments or more will be domestically sourced.

• Read more: THE ALLY WE TRUST. Warsaw's perspective on Washington and Berlin

In addition, Biden called for unity in a sharply divided Congress as he made an appeal to Republicans, who hold the majority in the House of Representatives, to raise the debt ceiling to prevent an economic disaster. The U.S. leader pointed out that most of the outstanding U.S. national debt was added under former President Donald Trump's tenure. Biden accused some Republicans of blackmailing him and forcing some radical pension and health cuts for seniors. Moreover, he pledged to reduce prescription drug costs and protect abortion rights.

Biden’s speech concentrated also on China and Ukraine. "Putin’s invasion has been a test for the ages––a test for America and the world" that these two have passed, according to Biden. Biden took a moment to pay tribute to Ukraine, addressing one of his guests, Ambassador Oksana Markarova, to pledge America's support to her country. "We will stand with you as long as it takes," Biden said, pointing to NATO's commitment to build a global coalition against Russia.

• Read more: Robust Alliances: USA-Israel, Russia-Iran

He quoted the story about how the People's Republic of China was increasing its power and America was falling in the world. Biden said he would not seek a conflict with China, yet declared his eagerness to win the economic competition with Beijing. He also commented on the shooting down of a Chinese surveillance balloon. "I am committed to work with China where it can advance American interests and benefit the world. But make no mistake: as we made clear last week, if China threatens our sovereignty, we will act to protect our country. And we did," the U.S. president said.

Author:

Dawid Krupa is a fourth-year law student at the Faculty of Law and Administration at Warsaw University. He has worked with various cultural institutions such as the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews, the Warsaw Uprising Museum and the Forum for Dialogue Foundation. His interests include national politics, international relations, religious studies and gardening.

This article was written as part of the statutory activities of the Polish think tank Warsaw Institute. If you appreciate the content prepared by our partner, we appeal to you for financial support for this non-profit organisation.

More information:
www.warsawinstitute.org/support/

February 24, 2022, remain a historic milestone that may mark a new chapter in the perception of international reality.  This day certainly marks a particular significance for the Central and Eastern European region. From Poland's perspective, the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine was another test of allies we could trust and could not. The widespread social and political mobilization and attitude of our key partners solve the debate about security direction for Warsaw in the upcoming years.

For many years, the Polish political scene has seen a division between supporters of "Washington" and advocates of the "Berlin" direction. This dilemma was caused by the convergence of interests observed in Warsaw over the past years. The line of thinking of the supporters of Berlin's direction is best summed up by the term "Wandel durch Handel" (eng. change through trade). This conviction is deeply rooted in the liberal assumption of building economic and political ties through trade. Security through economic linkages is deeply embedded in the policies of the Baltic States, which joined the Eurozone in 2011 (Estonia), 2014 (Latvia) and 2015 (Lithuania).

Due to its size, Warsaw is trying to bet on building an independent economic and geopolitical position. This direction was prevalent among political circles centred around Poland's current political opposition. Moreover, cooperation between Warsaw and Berlin went well under the administration of polish prime ministers Donald Dusk and Ewa Kopacz. There is speculation that the well-established cooperation between the administration of Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Chancellor Angela Merkel may have been one of the reasons Donald Tusk became the president of the European Council in 2014.

• Read more: Robust Alliances: USA-Israel, Russia-Iran

On the other hand, after winning the 2015 parliamentary elections, the polish united political right under the domination of PIS party (Law and Justice), significance the Washington direction, began to take on special. The United States was a particular reference point for Warsaw and a key partner during Poland's integration processes with the West after the collapse of the Eastern Bloc.  However, due to the natural intercontinental distance between Poland and the United States, these countries are not crucial trading partners for each other. That is the reason why, the position of a major trading partner, specifically after Poland joined the European Union (2004), began to be played by Germans.

The annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation and the beginning of the war in Donetsk and Donbas have raised a question Berlin's about Berlin attitude towards European Union Eastern Partnership policy. One of the first warning signs for Warsaw was Poland's exclusion from the Normandy format consisting of Ukraine, Russia, Germany, and France. Another of Poland's significant objections after PIS ruling party came to power was the issue related to the Nord Stream 2 pipeline construction. This issue brought Warsaw and Washington very close. These capitals unanimously stressed the geopolitical nature of the Nord Stream 2 project. The Polish side stressed that completing the Nord Stream 2 project might be comparable with pushing Ukraine directly under a speeding Russian tank. Unfortunately, as we could see, the depth of concern over Nord Stream 2 was justified.

A symbol of the growing cooperation between Warsaw and Washington was the 2016 NATO summit in Warsaw. Since 2016 American presence in the region only rise. The Warsaw Summit is crucial for Poland because, by decisions made at the summit, the presence of the Americans in had been established in Poland.  It remains crucial for the Polish side that the well-established cooperation with Washington has remained the same under either the Trump (2017) or the Biden (2022) administration. The best indication of Poland's shifting geopolitical relations is the atmosphere in which U.S. presidents visited Poland and how the newly elected Chancellor of Germany, Olaf Scholz, was welcomed in Warsaw. Due to the German attitude toward Ukraine, Chancellor Olaf Scholz is currently enjoying deficient trust in sympathy polls in Poland.

• Read more: USA Strongly Supports Ukraine

The beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine and the German attitude toward helping Ukraine has led to a drastic drop in confidence in Berlin throughout the Central European region and the Baltic states. The situation in the face of a full-scale war in Ukraine has shown Poles which allies can be trusted and which cannot. Trust is the key word here for Warsaw, remembering the attitude of the allies toward Poland during World War II. Berlin's attitude in the face of recent events in Ukraine has led Poles to reject the German option as a guarantor of geopolitical stability in Poland. Moreover, a rare political unity towards strengthening bonds with Washington made Warsaw realise that Washington remains we (Poles) Trust.

Autor:

Szymon Polewka – student of international relations at the Jagiellonian University, specializing in the history of international relations, the Eurasian area, DACHL countries, intercultural relations and energy.

This article was written as part of the statutory activities of the Polish think tank Warsaw Institute. If you appreciate the content prepared by our partner, we appeal to you for financial support for this non-profit organisation.

More information:
www.warsawinstitute.org/support/

Juniper Oak 23 exercise involves Israeli and U.S. troops in a message to the world that Washington has been committed to the Middle East despite the ongoing war in Ukraine and an implied warning to China, Russia, and Iran. Moscow and Tehran have seen a major rapprochement lately.

Juniper Oak 23 is the most significant exercise between the United States and Israel to date. About 6,400 U.S. personnel have joined 1,100 Israeli personnel for the exercise, which will employ 142 total aircraft. Of them, 100 aircraft are from the U.S. military, including four B-52 bombers, four F-35 fighter jets, and 45 F/A-18 Hornet fighters alongside 42 Israeli aircraft. Twelve ships, including a carrier strike group, will also participate. The scenario includes drills on land, in the air, at sea, in space, and in cyberspace. The U.S. and Israel have held the exercise annually for the past twenty years.

• Read more: USA Strongly Supports Ukraine

The exercise comes as the U.S. military footprint in the Central Command region is smaller than it has been in decades. While the Pentagon and Central Command downplay the decrease, allies in the region worry the U.S. is less committed to the area, according to NBC. The drills show Washington's military might and robust alliance with Israel despite ongoing shifts in the latter's government. Indeed, an implicit warning was sent to Russia, China, and Iran. “The scale of the exercise is relevant to a whole range of scenarios, and Iran may draw certain inferences from that,” Gen. Michael Kurilla, commander of U.S. Central Command, told journalists. “The all-domain exercise improves our interoperability with our partners, enhances our ability to respond to contingencies, and underscores our commitment to the Middle East,” the official added.

U.S.-Israeli military cooperation goes far beyond the joint exercise. Last July, the United States signed an unprecedented military aid deal with Israel to assist in the event of war. In September, the Pentagon signed a military sale contract with Boeing to provide Israel with four KC-46A air refueling aircraft, with a range of 12,000 km, which allows Israel to target Iranian nuclear facilities some 1,500 km away. In November, the Israeli and United States air forces launched a drill simulating strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

• Read more: U.S. Migrant Crisis

In response, Iran is cementing ties with Russia. These two embarked on their alliance against the West decades ago, yet their ties tinged with mistrust mingle. The war in Ukraine could be a real game changer as Moscow could consider Iran its top foreign ally, able to supply military equipment and relieve its sanction-stricken economy. Tehran has been accused of supplying combat drones to Russia, which has allegedly used them to target civilian infrastructure in Ukraine. According to the U.S.-based think-tank Institute of War Studies, Iran is likely to deploy a new batch of drones to Russia sometime soon. Consequently, Iran will receive Russian Su-35 fighter jets and broad military assistance.

Author:

Dawid Krupa is a fourth-year law student at the Faculty of Law and Administration at Warsaw University. He has worked with various cultural institutions such as the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews, the Warsaw Uprising Museum and the Forum for Dialogue Foundation. His interests include national politics, international relations, religious studies and gardening.

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