The US is seeking allies in central and eastern Europe, teaming up with Poland for a Middle East conference in Warsaw. Ahead of the event, expat Iranians protested the regime in Tehran. Monika Sieradzka from Warsaw.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo struck a chord in Poland this week when he said that the US had steered clear of the region for too long, leaving Russia to fill that “void.”
Warsaw sees Washington as a guarantor of security in the region. The Polish government is proud to have purchased 20 US-made HIMARS rocket launchers — a deal that was struck just before the start of the conference.
As the contract was signed — in the presence of Polish and US soldiers — the US vice president, Mike Pence, assured Warsaw the US would “stand behind Poland.
A Middle East conference – without Iran
US support for Poland is also the reason why Warsaw is organizing the Middle East conference – inspired by the US.
Seventy countries have been invited to the conference. Eastern and central European countries have sent their foreign ministers; Germany has sent the deputy foreign minister, Niels Annen. Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu is attending, but Russia is not. Iran has not even been invited.
Poland’s Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz insists the conference does not focus on Iran. The official agenda comprises topics such as efforts to curb rocket and missile armament, cybersecurity and the fight against terrorism.
Iran’s ambassador to Poland, however, said Warsaw would have to “suffer the consequences” if those attending the conference would try to “exert pressure on Iran.”
Protests against the conference
Both left-wing and right-wing nationalist groups agree that no one should debate issues concerning one country without its representatives taking part.
Robert Winnicki, a lawmaker from Poland’s “National Movement” party, met the Iranian ambassador ahead of the conference in Warsaw. He says the Polish government is organizing “a conference dictated by the US.”
On Wednesday, the leftist movement “Stop the War” protested at the Royal Castle in Warsaw. “We are against the submissive attitude that Poland is displaying with regard to the US,” the protesters said.
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