Polish President Karol Nawrocki Highlights Strategic US Alliance at CPAC in Dallas

Polish President Karol Nawrocki addressed the Conservative Political Action Conference in Dallas, Texas, on Saturday, March 28, becoming the only sitting head of state to speak at the event. Nawrocki opened his address by invoking the historical bonds between Poland and the United States, reminding the audience that Poles fought alongside Americans during the War of Independence. He named Tadeusz Kościuszko and Kazimierz Pułaski as examples of Polish patriots who gave their lives for American freedom. The president framed the Polish-American relationship as one rooted not merely in political alliance but in a shared Christian civilization. „Poland and the United States are not only allies. We are nations built around the same ideas: that government should serve the people, not rule over them, that freedom must be protected, not managed, that tradition matters because it gives meaning to freedom.” — Karol Nawrocki via Rzeczpospolita Nawrocki also cited the military dimension of the partnership, noting that 66 (soldiers) — Polish soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan missions had paid the ultimate price for the alliance.

Nawrocki targets Russia's claim to conservative values A central and pointed section of Nawrocki's speech was directed at American conservatives who have expressed sympathy toward Moscow, a tendency he addressed without naming individuals. He argued that Russia does not represent conservatism but rather corruption and violence, calling the Kremlin's self-portrayal as a defender of traditional values a lie. „Russia does not defend conservatism. Russia represents corruption and violence.” — Karol Nawrocki via wiadomosci.radiozet.pl He described Russia as a regime that attacks its neighbors, destroys cities, and believes that strength gives it the right to dominate others. Nawrocki also pointed to longer-term threats from Moscow, including destabilization campaigns, cyberattacks, and attempts to influence public opinion in Western countries. He called for greater unity in the Western world and warned that concessions to Russian aggression lead only to further escalation. The president also criticized centralizing tendencies within the European Union, singling out energy policy failures and migration policies that he said do not protect borders, while stressing that Poland wants to remain part of the bloc.

CPAC Poland planned for October, G20 invitation disclosed American Conservative Union chairman Matt Schlapp announced from the Dallas stage that CPAC will be held in Poland in October 2026. Kelly Loeffler, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration, described Poland at the conference as a great NATO ally and one of the top 20 global economic powers. After the conference concluded, Nawrocki appeared as a guest on TV Republika, where he spoke with host Tomasz Sakiewicz about transatlantic relations and Poland's strategic positioning. He described the alliance with the United States as Poland's raison d'état and argued that Poland should serve as the main link between Europe and Washington. „We received an invitation to a meeting of the group, to a meeting of the G20 group, and this is already a process. This is very good information for Polish entrepreneurs and for Poland in general.” — Karol Nawrocki via NIEZALEZNA.PL He also emphasized that Poland's membership in the EU and its alliance with the United States should not be placed in opposition to each other.

CPAC has been held annually in the United States for decades and has in recent years expanded to international editions, including in Poland. The American Conservative Union, which organizes the event, has used international editions to build ties with conservative movements in Europe and beyond. Poland's relationship with the United States deepened significantly after its accession to NATO in 1999 and has included joint military deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. Tadeusz Kościuszko and Kazimierz Pułaski are historical figures widely recognized in both Poland and the United States for their roles in the American Revolutionary War.

Nine million protesters march against Trump on the same day Nawrocki's appearance at CPAC coincided with large-scale protests taking place across the United States under the slogan "No Kings," directed against the administration of President Donald Trump. Organizers estimated that as many as nine million Americans could take part in the demonstrations, which were registered in all 50 states, with more than three thousand individual events reported. Protesters gathered in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., and in cities across the country, denouncing what demonstrators described as authoritarian tendencies in the Trump administration. The protests unfolded while Nawrocki delivered his address in Texas, where he expressed support for the direction of American conservative politics. According to the source article from oko.press, Nawrocki said at the conference that the world needs people like Trump, a statement that placed the Polish president squarely within the pro-Trump wing of the international conservative movement. The simultaneous occurrence of the mass protests and the CPAC conference illustrated the sharp political divisions running through American society on the day of Nawrocki's visit.