Sikorski: Germany remains a critical partner for Poland

On Wednesday evening, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz dismissed Finance Minister Christian Lindner, the leader of the liberal FDP - one of the three parties that had been in coalition until November 6.

Following the dismissal, Lindner's party withdrew from the coalition. As of now, Scholz’s SPD and the Greens remain, forming a minority government.

A vote of confidence in the government is scheduled in the Bundestag for January. However, opposition politicians are demanding that the vote take place sooner, even as early as next week. If the government fails to survive this vote, early elections are likely to be called.

At a press conference on Thursday, Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski was asked about the situation in Germany.

"Germany has a coalition government, and Poland has a coalition government.. Germany remains an important partner. Just yesterday, we were planning the next Weimar Triangle meeting in Warsaw, which will take place next month," he said.

He added that he also expects "more urgent consultations" with his counterparts from Germany and France.

Sikorski was also asked whether, in light of the political crisis in Germany, Poland might strengthen its regional position on security and defense.

"We hope Poland serves as an inspiration for others—not only in terms of defense spending but also, for example, in restoring the rule of law and introducing bold solutions in migration policy. Germany's Interior Minister Nancy Faeser recently visited the Polish-Belarusian border. We hope Germany appreciates our role in the Schengen area," Sikorski said.

Sikorski also commented on Donald Trump’s election as U.S. president.

"Elections have consequences. Now we will have a more muscular approach, a more unequivocal, assertive stance on important issues," the minister said.

Asked if Trump’s election might serve as a "wake-up call" for NATO member states regarding defense spending, he responded: "Hopefully, that will be the case." "This will be one of the arguments we use to urge our European partners to take the new position of EU Defense and Defense Industry Commissioner seriously," he added.

Sikorski also noted that he had often praised Trump, not only for his statements emphasizing NATO members’ need to spend more on defense but also for the tone of those statements, which were strong and direct.

"When these messages were delivered in diplomatic language, they didn’t always register with some European leaders. Now they are starting to get it. Countries have begun to increase defense spending, although still insufficiently. So yes, this will mean a change in tone, but I personally favor a straightforward approach, like the 'Christ-like speech': 'Yes - yes; no - no,'" Sikorski concluded.