Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has stirred debate across Europe after openly questioning Washington’s “loyalty” to NATO. In an interview with Financial Times, Tusk raised what he called the “biggest, most important question” for Europe: whether the United States would truly honor “NATO treaties” in the event of a (hypothetical) Russian attack. While insisting he was not being skeptical about Washington’s willingness to comply with Article 5, he warned that such guarantees must be “practical,” not merely “on paper,” and even suggested that the alliance could be tested within months.

Article 5 of the NATO treaty is the alliance’s core collective defence clause, stipulating that an attack on one member is treated as an attack on all.

In any case, Washington’s ambassador to Poland was quick to reaffirm commitment to Article 5, while Polish conservative figures warned that distancing from the US would be strategic folly. Debate in Poland is now significantly divided.

Tusk’s conclusion was that Europe must “reintegrate” and develop a “common defence”, including strengthening the EU’s own mutual defence clause.

This signals a long-overdue shift in Poland’s strategic orientation.  Even a former staunch Atlanticist like Tusk is clearly casting doubt on NATO’s reliability, thereby preparing the ground for a more autonomous European defense architecture — or at least the beginning of one.

This of course comes amid broader transatlantic tensions, including US pressure on allies during the recent Hormuz........

© Blitz