Poland’s president Andrzej Duda has declared his opposition to the appointment of a new Polish ambassador to NATO, accusing the government of jeopardising the country’s readiness for the upcoming summit of the alliance. 

This decision comes after the parliamentary foreign affairs committee, where the governing left-liberal coalition holds the majority, endorsed Jacek Najder as Poland’s new ambassador to NATO, replacing the incumbent Tomasz Szatkowski. Najder had previously served in this role from 2011 to 2016.

However, President Duda swiftly announced his refusal to endorse Najder’s reappointment, citing lack of consultation and agreement on the decision. He expressed astonishment at the attempt to replace Ambassador Szatkowski just ahead of NATO’s 75th anniversary summit in July, highlighting that no complaints had been raised against Szatkowski, who assumed the position in 2019. 

Duda criticised the process, claiming it violated established norms, asserting his role as the primary representative of Poland before NATO and insisting on his involvement in the ambassadorial appointment process.

The opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party also condemned the government’s actions, emphasising the importance of maintaining a strong position within NATO, especially with the impending summit.

FM Radosław Sikorski expressed his perplexity regarding the president’s stance, stressing the need for a unified foreign policy and asserting the government’s authority in leading Poland’s diplomatic efforts. He urged the president to allow the government to manage Polish policy cohesively.

Image: X (@prezydentpl)

Author: Sébastien Meuwissen