Foreign relations of Poland
The Republic of Poland is a Central European country and member of the European Union and NATO, among others. Poland wields considerable influence in Central and Eastern Europe and is a middle power in international affairs. The foreign policy of Poland is based on four basic commitments: to Atlantic co-operation, to European integration, to international development and to international law.
The Polish economy is fairly open and relies strongly on international trade. Since the collapse of communism and its re-establishment as a democratic nation, Poland has extended its responsibilities and position in European and Western affairs, supporting and establishing friendly foreign relations with both the West and with numerous European countries.
Integration with the West and Europe
After regaining independence in 1989, Poland has forged ahead on its economic reintegration with the Western world. Poland also has been an active nation in advocating European integration.In 1994, Poland became an associate member of the European Union and its defensive arm, the Western European Union. In 1996, Poland achieved full OECD membership and submitted preliminary documentation for full EU membership. In 1997, Poland was invited in the first wave of NATO policy enlargement at the July 1997 NATO Summit in Madrid, Spain. In March 1999, Poland became a full member of NATO. Poland promoted its NATO candidacy through energetic participation in the Partnership for Peace program and through intensified individual dialogue with NATO. Poland formally joined the European Union in May 2004, along with the other members of the Visegrád group.
Poland was a part of the multinational force in Iraq.
Establishing relationships with European countries
The collapse of the Soviet Union led to the establishment of seven new sovereign states in Poland's immediate neighborhood, of which Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine, and Russia border Poland. Poland has actively pursued good relations with all its neighboring countries, signing friendship treaties replacing links severed by the collapse of the Warsaw Pact. The Poles have forged special relationships with Lithuania and particularly Ukraine in an effort to firmly anchor these states to the West.Due to its tragic historical experience with aggression of powerful neighbors, Polish foreign policy pursues close cooperation with a strong partner, one apt enough to give strong military support in times of critical situations. This creates the background of Poland's tight relations with the USA and their sensitivity in relations towards its partner within the European Union, Germany. At the same time, the equally burdened attitude towards Russia results in very tense diplomatic relations, which have been constantly worsening since Vladimir Putin's rise to power. This is an important factor for the special attention Poland pays to the political emancipation of all its Eastern neighbors: Lithuania, Belarus and Ukraine.
Bilateral relations
Africa
| Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
| See Algeria–Poland relations | ||
| See Egypt–Poland relations | ||
| 13 December 1963 | See Kenya–Poland relations | |
| See Nigeria–Poland relations | ||
| See Poland–South Africa relations | ||
| 1961 | See Poland–Tanzania relations | |
Americas
| Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
| 1920 | See Argentina–Poland relations
| |
| 2 May 1995 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on May 2, 1995. | |
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| 27 May 1920 | See Brazil–Poland relations | |
| 1935 | See Canada–Poland relations | |
| 1920 | See Chile–Poland relations | |
| 1931 | See Colombia–Poland relations | |
| 1933 | See Cuba–Poland relations | |
| 1972 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 10 June 1972.
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| 26 February 1928 | See Mexico–Poland relations | |
| 1923 | See Peru–Poland relations | |
See Poland–United States relationsA tighter security alliance with the United States was announced in the middle of the Georgian crisis as an agreement between the two countries was reached to allow the US to install and operate an interceptor missile defense shield, a move which Russia sees explicitly targeting it and which it stated made Poland "a legit military target". A high-ranking Russian military official said: "Poland in deploying opens itself to a nuclear strike".
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| 22 July 1920 | See Poland–Uruguay relations | |
| 1933 | See Poland–Venezuela relations |