Polish president in U.N. address: Europe owes its security to U.S. commitment

"It is the United States that has been playing pivotal role in assuring security in Europe for more than a century," Andrzej Duda said in a speech to the United Nations General Assembly in New York. "I am saying so as a president of a European country, which was plagued by war experiences on so many occasions."

The president also said it was important to remember that "the engagement of the United States in the First World War led it to an end, as much as to the restoration of independence by Poland, and by other countries of Central and Eastern Europe".

"The United States played at pivotal role in defeating Nazi Germany. Without the US support, neither the United Kingdom nor the Soviet Union would have been able to resist Hitler," he added.

Duda underscored that "the United States was instrumental in the reconstruction of Western Europe in the aftermath of war, and in fending off the threat posed by the Soviet Union throughout the Cold War".

"It is too often that Europe tends to forget that it owes its security and prosperity to the US commitment and presence. In Poland we recall this very well, that is why Poland‘s top priority for the time of our presidency of the European Union in the first half of 2025, will be enhancing transatlantic relations, and cooperation between the EU and the United States of America!" - the Polish president said.

Andrzej Duda also spoke about the importance of the United Nations, which, in his view, is being questioned by some.

"Does it fit the times? On behalf of Poland, a neighbour of attacked Ukraine, a country that has taken in millions of refugees, I emphatically answer: yes. The United Nations is very much needed. No better system for international cooperation has been invented."

"Poland is ready to take on concrete measures to support the United Nations operations undertaken to confront the most fundamental global challenges and threats, social and economic crises. We wish to support the idea of just transition, of economic and social changes that will not lose sight of the human dimension, so that nobody is left behind," he assured.

According to Duda, lasting peace cannot be achieved "without cooperation, without solidarity between richer and poorer countries, and ultimately without respect for international law".

"Poland wants cooperation, Poland wants solidarity, Poland wants peace!"

WATCH AND READ THE FULL U.N. GENERAL ASSEMBLY SPEECH BY PRESIDENT ANDRZEJ DUDA BELOW