Poland’s Love for America Starting to Fade

There were no surprises. Barack Obama praised us for being a leading role in the region, promised to strengthen economic and military cooperation and mentioned relaxing visa requirements. Donald Tusk presented his guest with a fantasy game (was this meant as a witty allusion to his political style?).

Jaroslaw Kaczynski hinted that if he claimed election victory, the main issue in Polish-American relations would be explaining the Smolensk catastrophe. And Lech Walesa, with his characteristic charm, decided that there was nothing for him to talk to Obama about. Everyone on the Vistula River was being himself — including Warsaw officials who, in their excessive zeal, created a deserted fortress in the city center during Obama’s visit. And the dignified, though rather relaxed, guest laid a wreath, shook hands, congratulated, smiled and complimented Marta Kaczynska (if you can call asking her if she is going to school a compliment).

So, really the most important thing about this visit was that it actually happened. Poland’s love for America is starting to fade, and a year ago not even the volcanic ash cloud was a good enough explanation for why the U.S. president was absent from the funeral of Lech and Maria Kaczynski. This time everything went according to protocol and expectations. We didn’t suddenly become so important for Obama — who is busy with Asia, the economic crisis and next year’s presidential elections — but it is good that he himself (or his advisors) finally noticed the existence of a corner of the world that often looks at America with admiration and sometimes with hope — this time the hope is for the “Made in the U.S.” technology that will build our Polish shale gas El Dorado.

Polish observers treated the meeting of central and eastern European leaders — which was happening concurrently with the distinguished guest’s visit — with a bit of neglect. It’s true that the presidents did not decide on anything concrete, and Belgrade and Bucharest were offended because of the Kosovo issue. But it was also good to hear Barack Obama lift Poland to the rank of the natural leaders of the region, reminding us of what we have been able to achieve, as well as presenting us as an example to follow. Maybe sometimes it’s good to have a ceremonial visit from someone far away, so that we can remind ourselves that between the Baltic Sea and the Tatra Mountains something good has happened. At least for a moment, before we get back to the everyday routine of political “Jell-O-wrestling.”