Flaunting mischief: Three aims of Russia’s airspace incursions
Russia’s recent incursions into NATO airspace are the biggest escalation with the alliance since the cold war. With it, Putin likely hopes to achieve three main goals
Poland
Hold the line: NATO cannot allow airspace violations to go unchallenged
The NATO response to Russia’s latest violation of Poland airspace shows what collective defence can achieve and is the kind of resolute action the new threat environment demands
Home and away: Why Poland is fighting a war on two fronts
Poland should be at the forefront in deterring Russia’s aggression in Ukraine. Instead, its government is hindered by political infighting and an unclear position towards Ukrainians in Poland. Tusk and Nawrocki need to put aside their differences and let Poland lead on European security policy
Two-year timer: How Europeans can support Tusk against Poland’s right wing
Karol Nawrocki is well-placed to block Donald Tusk’s agenda and threaten his reelection in 2027. Tusk should engage with European leaders—and the new Polish president—to help deter Poland’s right wing and defend its liberal future
Nawrocki’s win: What Poland’s populist president means for Europe
Mark Leonard welcomes Piotr Buras to unpack Poland’s knife-edge presidential election—and what the result means for Europe
2 Jun
A pivotal choice: Poland’s presidential election and the future of Europe’s foreign policy and defence agenda
The final round of the Polish presidential election of 1 June 2025 is a milestone for Poland and for Europe. The close race between pro-European…
Liberal tides, populist currents: Elections in Poland and Romania
Mark Leonard welcomes Piotr Buras to unpack the Polish and Romanian elections and their implications for Europe’s liberal future
Not so fast: How Poland’s next president could hamper its foreign policy ambitions
If the Law and Justice candidate wins Poland’s presidential election, Donald Tusk’s efforts to make Poland a key player within the EU could be under threat. Transatlantic and Ukraine policy, however, will likely remain bipartisan
Multi-Pole-arity: How Poland can help Europe think big on China
Beijing’s economic policies are threatening European competitiveness and economic security at a time when Europe cannot afford to be vulnerable. Poland can use its growing leadership role in the EU to help guide the bloc’s response
Guns and butter: How to keep Europeans on board with higher defence spending
European policymakers face a tough task. While boosting defence spending, they also need to tailor their communication strategies to keep their national publics onside