Polish presidential aides dispute Donald Tusk's claims of secret CIA security report
Polish presidential officials have dismissed Prime Minister Donald Tusk's statements regarding a secret CIA security report, triggering a sharp dispute between the government and the presidency over intelligence sharing.
Dispute over intelligence report
A political dispute has broken out in Poland after presidential aides questioned Prime Minister Donald Tusk's assertions about an intelligence report from the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). During a Visegrad Group summit in Bratislava on 10 September 2026, Tusk stated that he had received an assessment directly from CIA Director John Ratcliffe regarding potential Russian security threats in the coming months. Marcin Przydacz, head of the Presidential International Policy Bureau, wrote on social platform X that no secret CIA report was on the desk, calling the claim an invented lie. Zbigniew Bogucki, head of the Presidential Chancellery, stated on 18 September 2026 that the document appeared not to exist at all.
There was no 'secret CIA report' on the desk.
Information transfer between services
Despite the public clash over the existence of a formal written report, the government and the presidency confirmed that intelligence findings had been shared. Tomasz Siemoniak, Poland's coordinator of special services, met Ratcliffe at CIA headquarters on 8 September 2026 before initiating a briefing with Bartosz Grodecki, head of the National Security Bureau (BBN), on 17 September 2026. Grodecki stated that he received the information from Siemoniak and passed it directly to President Karol Nawrocki. Grodecki added that the exact format of the transmission was secondary and confirmed that a written version would follow.
Minister Tomasz Siemoniak gave me the information he obtained from the head of the CIA last week. I have already passed this information to the president.
- CIA Director John Ratcliffe meets Russian intelligence chiefs in Moscow
- Donald Tusk warns of Russian escalation after briefing from NATO's Mark Rutte
- Tomasz Siemoniak meets John Ratcliffe at CIA headquarters
- Donald Tusk announces receiving an intelligence report from the CIA director
- Tomasz Siemoniak briefs Bartosz Grodecki, who relays findings to Karol Nawrocki
- Presidential aides dispute the existence of a formal written CIA report
Government reaction and security councils
The presidential chancellery's statements prompted criticism from the foreign ministry. Deputy Foreign Minister Marcin Bosacki described Przydacz's social media comments as a scandal, stating that presidential officials were engaging in political games during a period of heightened security threats. Bogucki maintained that while Russian threats are recognized, national security matters should not serve as an instrument for domestic politics. Bogucki confirmed that Nawrocki does not plan to convene the National Security Council (RBN) at this stage, arguing that the body should not be gathered for every emerging piece of information.
What they are doing in a very serious situation for Poland's security, PiS politicians, unfortunately including presidential officials like Mr. Przydacz, is an absolute scandal.
Defense talks and US visit
The briefing follows earlier regional warnings, including a 29 August 2026 assessment shared by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Ratcliffe's 25 August 2026 visit to Moscow for meetings with Russian intelligence chiefs Sergei Naryshkin and Alexander Bortnikov. Nawrocki is scheduled to meet on 18 September 2026 with Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz alongside Chief of the General Staff Gen. Wiesław Kukuła. Following these security discussions, the president and the first lady are scheduled to visit the United States from Sunday to Wednesday to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Bogucki also addressed negotiations over a permanent United States military base in Poland, stating that both countries are close to finalizing the process, though final troop numbers and base locations require government engagement.
