Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski delivered an unusually blunt assessment of Poland's strategic position on Wednesday, warning that deteriorating relations between the United States and Europe pose a "particular challenge" for Warsaw as a front-line NATO member state.Speaking in his yearly foreign policy address to Poland's Sejm, Sikorski confronted a reality that would have been unthinkable just years ago: 54% of Poles now view the United States as an unreliable ally, according to polling conducted at the end of January. Only 35% disagreed with that assessment."Unfortunately, relations between the US and Europe have deteriorated," Sikorski said, according to TVP World. The foreign minister emphasized that Poland "cannot afford paralysis" amid growing uncertainty about American commitment to European security.<h2>A Historic Shift in Polish Public Opinion</h2>The polling figures represent a seismic shift in Polish attitudes toward the Atlantic alliance. For decades, Poland has positioned itself as one of Washington's most reliable European partners, hosting American military bases, contributing troops to U.S.-led operations from Iraq to Afghanistan, and consistently advocating for stronger NATO presence in Eastern Europe.In Poland, as across Central Europe, history is never far from the surface—and neither is the memory of occupation. The country's enthusiastic embrace of NATO membership after the Cold War was rooted in bitter experience: centuries of partition, Soviet domination, and the understanding that only credible security guarantees could preserve Polish sovereignty against Russian power.Now that foundational assumption is being questioned. The deterioration in transatlantic relations—driven by unpredictable American policy shifts, questions about Washington's focus on European security, and growing isolationist sentiment in U.S. politics—has left Warsaw in an uncomfortable position.<h2>Caught Between Two Imperatives</h2>Sikorski's address reflected Poland's delicate balancing act. While acknowledging Polish concerns about American reliability, the foreign minister reaffirmed that developing cooperation with Washington remains in Poland's national interest. He emphasized that Poland is ready to serve as a regional hub for U.S. forces in Europe.This is the fundamental dilemma facing Polish foreign policy: Warsaw needs American security guarantees more than ever, given Russia's continued aggression in Ukraine and the threat it poses to Poland's eastern border. But those guarantees now appear less certain than at any point since NATO expansion in 1999.The timing of Sikorski's warning is particularly significant. Poland has dramatically increased defense spending in response to the war in Ukraine, committing to spend over 4% of GDP on the military—the highest rate in NATO. The country has become a critical logistics hub for Western military assistance to Kyiv and has absorbed over a million Ukrainian refugees.Yet Poland is also navigating severe fiscal constraints. The European Commission recently warned that Polish national debt is on track to exceed 100% of GDP by 2036, raising questions about the sustainability of Warsaw's ambitious defense programs without reliable American support.<h2>European Strategic Autonomy Meets Eastern European Reality</h2>Sikorski's remarks come as European leaders increasingly discuss "strategic autonomy"—the idea that the continent must develop independent military capabilities rather than relying primarily on the United States. But for Poland and other Central European states, this concept carries different weight than in Paris or Berlin.Western European capitals can afford to contemplate reduced American engagement as an opportunity for European empowerment. For Poland, weakened U.S. commitment represents an existential security risk given its geography and history."Poland is a loyal US ally, but we can't be suckers," Sikorski said in recent remarks at the Munich Security Conference, according to TVP World. The comment captured Warsaw's frustration: deep commitment to the transatlantic relationship paired with growing anxiety about whether that commitment is reciprocated.<h2>Domestic Political Dimensions</h2>The shifting Polish view of the United States also carries domestic political implications. Prime Minister Donald Tusk's coalition government came to power promising to restore Poland's standing in the European Union after years of rule-of-law disputes under the previous Law and Justice (PiS) government. But Tusk also positioned himself as a strong defender of the Atlantic alliance.If Polish public opinion continues to sour on American reliability, it could complicate Tusk's foreign policy positioning. The far-right Confederation party, which has shown willingness to break with mainstream Polish support for Ukraine, could exploit public doubts about U.S. commitment to advocate for alternative security arrangements—or worse, accommodation with Russia.Recent voting in the European Parliament illustrated these emerging fault lines. While Polish MEPs from mainstream parties—including both Tusk's coalition and the opposition PiS—overwhelmingly supported a resolution affirming EU backing for Ukraine, Confederation members voted against continued support, aligning themselves with Hungary's Viktor Orbán.<h2>The View from Warsaw</h2>Speaking to Polish parliamentarians, Sikorski was addressing an audience acutely aware of their country's strategic exposure. Poland shares a border with the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad and with Belarus, a Russian client state. The war in Ukraine is taking place on Poland's doorstep.This proximity gives Polish warnings about Russian intentions particular credibility. For years, Warsaw has cautioned Western partners against underestimating Moscow's willingness to use force and hybrid warfare tactics. The invasion of Ukraine vindicated those warnings—but also highlighted how dependent Poland remains on external security guarantees.Sikorski, who previously served as foreign minister from 2007 to 2014 and defense minister in the 1990s, brings deep experience to the role. This is the tenth time he has delivered Poland's foreign policy address. His track record includes strong advocacy for NATO's eastern flank and skepticism about Russian intentions long before it became fashionable in Western capitals.His current message is clear: Poland will continue to fulfill its alliance obligations and seek close partnership with the United States. But Warsaw can no longer assume that American commitment to European security is automatic or unconditional.<h2>Poland's Strategic Options</h2>The foreign minister's remarks suggest Poland is pursuing a multi-track approach to navigate deteriorating EU-US relations. This includes:Deepening European defense cooperation while maintaining that this must complement, not replace, the NATO alliance and American security guarantees.Strengthening regional security arrangements with Baltic states, Romania, and Nordic countries—nations that share Poland's acute awareness of the Russian threat.Maintaining bilateral security ties with Washington through defense procurement, military exercises, and hosting U.S. forces, even as broader transatlantic relations deteriorate.Building leverage through burden-sharing, with Poland's exceptional defense spending demonstrating its commitment to collective security and countering accusations of European free-riding.But all of these strategies face limitations. European defense integration moves slowly and faces political obstacles. Regional arrangements cannot substitute for NATO's Article 5 guarantee. Bilateral ties with Washington offer no protection against fundamental shifts in American grand strategy.<h2>Historical Echoes</h2>For Poles, the current moment carries uncomfortable historical resonance. The country has repeatedly found itself abandoned by supposed allies at critical moments—most painfully in 1939, when British and French security guarantees proved worthless in the face of German and Soviet invasion.The post-Cold War order, anchored by NATO membership and integration with Western institutions, was meant to ensure that such betrayals could never happen again. The deterioration in EU-US relations, combined with questions about American staying power in Europe, revives old anxieties about Poland's vulnerability.Sikorski's warning that Poland "cannot afford paralysis" reflects this historical consciousness. The foreign minister is arguing that Warsaw must actively shape its security environment rather than passively hoping that traditional alliances will automatically protect Polish interests.As Poland navigates this uncertain landscape, one thing remains clear: the country's geography and history give it little room for strategic error. The foreign minister's blunt assessment of deteriorating transatlantic relations marks an important moment—Warsaw publicly acknowledging that the security architecture that has protected Poland for a quarter-century can no longer be taken for granted.What comes next will test both Poland's diplomatic skill and the resilience of Western institutions that have underpinned European security since World War II. In a characteristically Polish way, Sikorski is preparing his country for a more uncertain future while still hoping that the Atlantic alliance can be preserved.