Nowe akcenty w stosunkach amerykańsko-rosyjskich w okresie administracji Baracka Obamy a bezpieczeństwo Polski

Abstract

Under the administration of Barack Obama, the Russo‑American relations took the form of a pragmatic partnership. The politycy of “reset” in the relations between Washington and Moscow, initiated in 2009, has delivered tangible benefits, such as the START III treaty, Russia’s modifying its stance on the Iranian nuclear programme in line with that of the U.S., the co‑operation in Afghanistan or U.S. military transit through Russian territory. Despite the recent improvement, the relations between Russia and the U.S. are not free from problematic issues and many disagreements remain unresolved. Nevertheless, althougt Russian and American interests often diverge, the need for concerted efforts between the two powers is apparent in order to tackle key international problems. The aim of this article is to demonstrate the new priorities of the Obama administration in the Russo‑Americal relations and, in this context, to discuss the importance and implications of these priorities for Poland’s national security. Having long strived for recognition as the U.S. key ally in Central Europe, Poland’s importance for the U.S. foreign policy has diminished under the Obama administration. For Washington’s point of view, the relations between Poland and the U.S. are not critical for the Americal interests in Europe. Poland remains an important partner of the U.S., but only one of many. It is the diplomatic relations with Moscow that the current Democratis administration considers as crucial, with Poland fitting into the broad diplomatic framework created around such relations.