Once Poland became an independent country in 1989, it started applying to become a NATO member. NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) was created in 1949. Originally, it contained 12 members, which were: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Poland was accepted into NATO in 1999.
The purpose of creating NATO was to defend against Soviet Union and it’s allies. Once the time has passed, the pact provides a balance between East and West as well as prevents the spread of local military tensions. In 1999, three post-Soviet countries became NATO members. These countries were Poland, Hungary, and Czech Republic. Right now, NATO has 30 members and also several countries that have applied to become one.
What Do Polish People Think of NATO?
A majority of Polish people (57%) agree that NATO forces from other countries should be present in Poland. It is a great dose of support considering the fact that we are talking about foreign military forces that are located in our country. 61% of Polish citizens (according to a survey prepared in 2014) are convinced that NATO soldiers will defend Poland when it is threatened.
It is important to explain that our history clearly shows that in the case of danger, allies have failed to uphold all the agreements and pacts. World War II proved that big time. When we were invaded by German and Soviet armies in September 1939, the allies did nothing. The presence of Poland in the Treaty gives people hope for national security.
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When the war in Ukraine began, Polish support for NATO increased dramatically. According to the latest surveys, 81% of Polish people support Poland being a NATO member. Most of us believe that the pact will fulfill its requirements and support us in case of military conflict with Russia.
Polish Soldiers in NATO
I need to say that Polish soldiers have always been outstanding for their courage and character. They proved that during the campaign in Iraq in April 2004. It was the largest battle fought by the Polish troops since World War II. For those who are interested in getting more information, there is a book (and a movie based on this story), called „Karbala”.
Lieutenant Grzegorz Kaliciak, commander of Fox Company, said: „I was proud that, after such struggles, we all returned to the country alive. The book I wrote is a tribute to my subordinates from Fox Company, who turned out to be true warriors. However, I do not call them superheroes. I do not say they were perfect. Some of them showed a lot of courage, others just did what they were supposed to do. All of them fulfilled their dangerous tasks well. „
When Did Poland Join NATO?
The official ceremony took place on March 12th, 1999 in the city of Independence (USA) where the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland, (Bronislaw Geremek) passed the act of accession of Poland into the hands of the US Secretary of State (Madeleine Albright). That day, Poland became an official member of NATO. A few days later, Polish soldiers participated in Polish-German navy training.
When, in late March 1991, the post-Soviet military structures in Poland were dissolved and the Warsaw Pact formally came to an end in July, attempts to get Poland into the structures of the North Atlantic Alliance accelerated. A year later, the then NATO Secretary General stated that „the door to NATO for Poland is open”.
In order to join NATO, Poland had to implement procedures and adapt the Army to NATO requirements. The process took several years and was eventually completed at the end of January 1999. At that time, the NATO Secretary General sent a formal invitation to Poland. Two other countries that also received such a document were Hungary and the Czech Republic.
Who introduced Poland to NATO?
President of the Republic of Poland, Aleksander Kwasniewski. On the basis of statutory authorization, he signed the act of accession of the Republic of Poland to the North Atlantic Treaty on February 26, 1999.
How many NATO troops are there in Poland?
There are over 1,000 NATO troops in Poland as part of the alliance.
What other alliances does Poland belong to?
They include the International Labor Organization (ILO), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
Is Poland and the USA an Ally?
Yes, it is known in the world that Poland is a US ally. After the democratic changes initiated in 1989, Poland and the United States have been connected by close, friendly relations. The two-way cooperation is carried out in the following spheres: political dialogue, security and defense, and initiatives in support of democratic transition in the world.
The United States strongly supported Poland’s accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). As I explained already, Poland subsequently provided significant contributions to US and NATO military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
What Does it Take to Become a Member of NATO?
In order for a country to join the Alliance, it is necessary to obtain the unanimous consent of the NATO member countries. This means approval from all 30 existing allied countries.
All democratic countries in Europe that respect the same values as NATO does—and are willing to fulfill the obligations of membership—are potentially entitled to become NATO members. Not a single non-NATO country will have the right to veto.
The United States remains in favor of NATO to allow for an ongoing dialogue between NATO and those countries that want to become members. The NATO expansion process has already created different groups of countries. Some have expressed no interest in joining the Alliance, in general or at any given time. Other countries have stated they want to join, but are not real candidates in the short term.
What Are NATO Members in 2022?
Below you can see a list of countries that are NATO members. These indicated with the asterisk are the ones called „NATO founders„. This means these are the countries that originally created the pact in 1949.
| NATO Memeber | Year Joined | NATO Memeber | Year Joined | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albania | 2009 | Lithuania | 2004 | |
| Belgium | 1949* | Luxembourg | 1949* | |
| Bulgaria | 2004 | Montenegro | 2017 | |
| Canada | 1949* | Netherlands | 1949* | |
| Croatia | 2009 | North Macedonia | 2020 | |
| Czech Republic | 1999 | Norway | 1949* | |
| Denmark | 1949* | Poland | 1999 | |
| Estonia | 2004 | Portugal | 1949* | |
| France | 1949* | Romania | 2004 | |
| Germany | 1955 | Slovakia | 2004 | |
| Greece | 1952 | Slovenia | 2004 | |
| Hungary | 1999 | Spain | 1982 | |
| Iceland | 1949* | Turkey | 1952 | |
| Italy | 1949* | United Kingdom | 1949* | |
| Latvia | 2004 | United States | 1949* |
Bibliography
- https://www.gov.pl/web/national-defence/poland-in-nato-20-years
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATO_forces_in_Poland
