On Tuesday, September 16, 2025, U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whittaker met with Deputy Minister of National Defence Paweł Zalewski and Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces, General Wiesław Kukuła.
Photo: Polish Ministry Of National Defence
The purpose of the meeting at the Ministry of National Defence was to discuss the security situation on NATO’s eastern flank, also in the context of the Russian-Belarusian Zapad-2025 exercises. Deputy Minister Paweł Zalewski informed the Ambassador about recent violations of Polish airspace by Russian unmanned aerial vehicles. He highlighted the swift response of both the Polish Armed Forces and allied forces. He expressed gratitude for U.S. support in initiating urgent NATO measures, including consultations under Article 4 of the Washington Treaty and the deployment of forces under Eastern Sentry (Polish President Decides on NATO Troop Presence, NATO launches Eastern Sentry to further strengthen the eastern flank).
The talks also covered ongoing Alliance efforts to further reinforce NATO’s deterrence and defense posture, with U.S. military presence in Europe, including in Poland, being a key element.
Ambassador Whittaker thanked Poland for its commitment to strengthening NATO’s eastern flank, including its high defense spending. He confirmed that Poland remains a model ally. The meeting was also attended by U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires in Warsaw, Stephanie Holmes.
Photo: General Staff Of Polish Armed Forces
Earlier the same day, Ambassador Matthew Whittaker met with the Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces (SG WP), General Wiesław Kukuła, where he took part in a briefing on Operation East Shield and Iron Defender-25.
Topics included:
- Operation Eastern Sentry – joint NATO military activities and allied presence in Poland,
- Transformation of the Polish Armed Forces – equipment modernization, development of new capabilities, and soldier training,
- Situation on the eastern border – security challenges and allied cooperation.
Spotkanie wiceministra P. Zalewskiego z Ambasadorem Stanów Zjednoczonych przy NATO
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16 września br. sekretarz stanu w MON, Paweł Zalewski spotkał się z Ambasadorem Stanów Zjednoczonych przy NATO, Matthew Whittakerem. Celem spotkania było omówienie sytuacji bezpieczeństwa na… pic.twitter.com/0W77RvPWCN— Ministerstwo Obrony Narodowej 🇵🇱 (@MON_GOV_PL) September 17, 2025
Gen. Wiesław Kukuła, szef @SztabGenWP, rozmawiał z H.E. Matthew Whitakerem, @USAmbNATO.
Wśród tematów:
🔹 Operacja Eastern Sentry – wspólne działania wojsk NATO i obecność sojusznicza w Polsce,
🔹 Transformacja Sił Zbrojnych RP – modernizacja sprzętu, rozwój nowych zdolności i… pic.twitter.com/uZ5ADiTzXI— Sztab Generalny WP (@SztabGenWP) September 16, 2025
Ambasador Whitaker wziął udział w briefingu dotyczącym Tarczy Wschód oraz #IronDefender25 w @SztabGenWP , podczas którego poruszono temat wspólnych ćwiczeń sił amerykańskich i polskich, podczas których nasi żołnierze szkolą się ramię w ramię, demonstrując największe atuty NATO:… pic.twitter.com/cXZTRQAHgD
— US Embassy Warsaw (@USEmbassyWarsaw) September 16, 2025