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Polish PM Questions US Loyalty in Case of Russian Attack, Ft Reports
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 24, 2026
2 min readLast updated: April 24, 2026
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Polish PM Donald Tusk questioned U.S. reliability under Trump in defending NATO allies, urging the EU to bolster its own defence—including activating Article 42.7 TEU—as U.S. commitment appears uncertain amid Russia’s threats.
Polish PM Doubts US Loyalty to NATO, Calls for Stronger EU Defence
Polish Prime Minister Tusk Raises Concerns Over NATO Commitment and EU Defence
WARSAW, April 24 (Reuters) - Europe's "biggest, most important question" is whether the United States is ready to be a loyal NATO partner in case of a Russian attack, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk told the Financial Times.
Concerns Over US Commitment to NATO
He also called for the European Union to become a "real alliance" in protecting the continent, reflecting growing worries about U.S. President Donald Trump's unpredictable policies and threats towards his European partners.
Eastern Flank Security and NATO's Readiness
"For the whole eastern flank, my neighbours... the question is if NATO is still an organisation ready, politically and also logistically, to react, for example against Russia if they try to attack," he said in an interview published in the British newspaper on Friday.
Tusk said a potential Russian attack was "something really serious".
Short-Term Security Perspectives
"I'm talking about short-term perspectives, rather months than years... For us, it's really important to know that everyone will treat the NATO obligations as seriously as Poland."
Calls for Stronger European Union Defence
Tusk was speaking on the occasion of an informal EU summit in Cyprus where EU leaders will also discuss the war in the Middle East, energy measures in response and the Union's next long-term budget.
EU Mutual Defence Clause and Alliance Strengthening
Tusk suggested that the bloc could also reflect on its mutual defence clause, Article 42.7 of the EU treaty, after the departure of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, an ally of Russia.
Practical Steps for a Real Alliance
"What you need if you want to have, not only on paper, a real alliance, is true tools and real power when it comes to defence instruments and mobility of militaries from country to country etc. It's a very practical problem for today," he said.
"This is why my obsession now and my mission is to reintegrate Europe. It means common defence... a common effort to protect our eastern borders."
Reporting Credits
(Reporting by Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk; Editing by Kate Mayberry)
Key Takeaways
- •Tusk warned that the U.S. might not uphold NATO obligations in the event of a Russian attack, calling that Europe’s “biggest, most important question” (reddit.com).
- •He urged the EU to become a “real alliance” with practical defence tools and mobility across borders, emphasizing the need for operationalising the mutual defence clause (Article 42.7 TEU) (reddit.com).
- •Discussions are already underway at the Cyprus informal summit to explore how Article 42.7 can serve as a NATO‑style defence guarantee, amid growing concern over U.S. unpredictability and EU strategic autonomy (euronews.com).
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Polish PM questions US loyalty in case of Russian attack, FT reports
1What did Polish PM Donald Tusk say about US loyalty to NATO?
Donald Tusk questioned whether the United States would remain a loyal NATO partner if Russia attacked, highlighting uncertainty over US commitment.
2Why is the EU being urged to strengthen its defence alliance?
Tusk called for the EU to become a 'real alliance' for protecting Europe, especially given concerns about the US's unpredictable policies.
3What potential threat did Tusk mention in his interview?
Tusk cited the possibility of a Russian attack and stressed the need for NATO and the EU to be prepared to respond seriously and effectively.
4What EU clause did Tusk suggest reconsidering for mutual defence?
Tusk suggested the EU could reflect on Article 42.7 of the EU treaty, which concerns mutual defence.
5When and where were Tusk's comments made?
Tusk made his remarks in an interview published by the Financial Times and during an informal EU summit in Cyprus.
