“Poland wants to preserve the unity of the Alliance,” Kosiniak-Kamysz said during a press briefing in Warsaw. “There is no NATO without the United States, and no U.S. strength without NATO. Our role is to unite.”
Several European countries, including Sweden, Norway, Germany, the Netherlands, France, and Finland, have dispatched small military contingents to Greenland this week to participate in Operation Arctic Endurance, a multinational exercise set to conclude Saturday. The move follows recent remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump, who has said the U.S. may have to choose between NATO and acquiring Greenland from Denmark, which formally controls the territory.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed earlier that Poland would not participate in the deployment.
Responding to criticism from some military figures, including retired General Roman Polko, who called Poland’s stance “cowardice,” Kosiniak-Kamysz defended the decision as strategic. He said Poland continues to support Denmark’s sovereignty over Greenland and encouraged diplomatic resolution with Washington.
“There is no need for emotional reactions,” he said. “Poland will continue to support allied relations and do everything to prevent rifts within NATO.”
Lithuanian Defense Minister Robertas Kaunas, speaking alongside Kosiniak-Kamysz, expressed support for Poland’s position and said he believed a compromise among NATO members could still be reached.
Meanwhile, talks between Danish and Greenlandic foreign ministers and U.S. officials in Washington on Wednesday ended without a shift in the American position. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said European military presence on the island would not influence President Trump’s decision-making, reiterating the administration’s intent to pursue control of Greenland.
Further negotiations between U.S., Danish, and Greenlandic officials are scheduled to take place every two to three weeks.
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Source: PAP, Polish Radio