Foreign Policy of Poland towards the Eastern Partnership States before 2023

Abstract

Poland has consistently displayed a strong strategic interest in Eastern Europe, shaped by a set of interrelated factors that influence how the region is perceived by Polish political elites and so ciety. The most salient determinants include perceptions of threats to national security and the politi cal climate in Poland’s relations with individual Eastern European neighbours. Poland’s eastern policy is also conditioned by the broader state of relations between Russia and the West, which affects both regional stability and the scope for EU engagement. This article examines whether Poland’s foreign policy toward the Eastern Partnership states changed after 2023, following the change of government, and identifies the main areas in which any shifts in priorities and instruments occurred. The study employs a qualitative research design grounded in the liberal theoretical tradition, drawing on the analysis of official documents and political statements.