Janusz Reiter, a erstwhile Polish ambassador to Germany and the USA, writes on Thursday, April 3, on "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung" ("FAZ") about the reasons for the stalemate in Polish-German relations. In his opinion, this state is not only a consequence of waiting for a fresh government in Germany and a fresh president in Poland. "However, a dangerous illusion is the belief that Germany and Poland will unite in common responsibility, as long as the formal political constellation is right," we read.
As the diplomat writes, many people in Germany have an imaginary image of Poland. Meanwhile, Poland is not “France in the East”. "Polish-German relations deficiency a tradition of large European political cooperation that exists between Germany and France. Both sides would gotta step into a fresh political ground," Reiter believes.
Double risk
The author emphasizes that for the Polish government all effort to open up to Germany involves a double risk. On the 1 hand, the opposition must be attacked, which inactive feels empowered to interpret relations between the 2 countries. "Second, the government seems uncertain that its way out will be even honored by the German side. He is so looking for another partnerships to 1 day get closer to Germany with a stronger position. Nobody knows erstwhile this day will come," we read.
In the opinion of the erstwhile ambassador and the current president of the foundation of the Center for global Relations in Warsaw, both governments should make a fresh agenda. It should focus on safety and defence policy. As Reiter writes, this is an area where Poland has a advanced level of credibility. "The point of departure should be that the discrimination between territorial defence and allied defence is obsolete in the current situation. The east border of Poland is Germany's first line of defence. all investment in Poland's defence capabilities is an investment in the safety of the national Republic," the author says.
Support at the border and the Baltic
Reiter offers concrete initiatives, including Germany's support for securing the east border of Poland. This would besides have a affirmative effect on German migration policy. The author besides writes about the thought of creating a Baltic Fund, which could be utilized to modernise the Polish fleet and communication systems in the face of Russian sabotage attacks, with the support of the RFN.
The erstwhile Polish Ambassador besides sees the request to strengthen the Polish-German-Danish military corps, which is based in Szczecin. "It should be considered whether it could not be transferred to the north-east border close the “Suval Corridor”. In this way Germany, Poland and Denmark would signal that they want to do more together to defend the Baltic countries,” we read.
Defeat asymmetry
Writing about common cooperation in the field of defence, Reiter calls for “the formulation of fresh rules of play”. "Asymmetry in Polish-German relations, which he so frequently regrets in Poland, could be interpreted in a affirmative light. Germany would make an ‘asymmetric’ financial contribution without claiming the right to ‘asymmetric’ influences. This would make it clear that Germany's fresh defence policy is not national but European,” says the FAZ.
The author believes that without the brave initiatives that Europe needs and which deviate from the usual abroad policy, it will not be possible to bring about a breakthrough in Polish-German relations.
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