Poland’s freshly minted president, Karol Nawrocki, is making waves with his first White House visit today, aiming to solidify ties with President Donald Trump. The former boxer and historian, backed by Trump during Poland’s tight election, is pushing for a robust U.S. military presence in his country as a shield against Russian aggression.

Nawrocki’s trip comes at a critical time. Trump, frustrated by stalled peace talks between Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy, recently met both leaders but failed to spark negotiations to end the three-year war next door to Poland. “Maybe they have to fight a little longer,” Trump quipped in a recent Daily Caller interview, hinting at his growing impatience.

With 10,000 U.S. troops stationed in Poland, Nawrocki faces a tough sell. Some of Trump’s advisors are eyeing a pivot to the Indo-Pacific, potentially pulling forces from Europe. “This meeting is make-or-break,” said Peter Doran of the Foundation for the Defence of Democracies. “Nawrocki needs to prove Poland’s value as a frontline ally.”

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Nawrocki, a nationalist from the Law and Justice party, narrowly defeated Warsaw’s liberal mayor in May’s election, fuelled by Trump’s endorsement and a visit from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who promised stronger U.S. ties. Now, Nawrocki must convince Trump that Poland is key to countering Putin, especially as Russia and Belarus plan joint military drills near Poland’s border.

Echoing Trump’s scepticism, Nawrocki has criticised Zelenskyy for leaning too heavily on allies and vowed to prioritise Polish citizens over Ukrainian refugees. Yet, he’s expected to stress to Trump that Russia’s actions in Ukraine prove Putin’s threat extends beyond its borders, making U.S. troops in Poland a vital deterrent.

“This visit is Nawrocki’s chance to show Trump that Poland is America’s indispensable partner,” said Heather Conley of the American Enterprise Institute. With NATO allies Latvia and Lithuania also on edge, the stakes couldn’t be higher.

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