Donald Trump is set to host Polish President Andrzej Duda for a dinner at Trump Tower in New York on Wednesday, according to individuals familiar with the plans.
The meeting marks the beginning of Duda’s week-long visit to the US and Canada. While the dinner with Trump is not listed in the official schedule, Duda’s itinerary includes meetings with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Strengthening Diplomatic Ties: Trump-Duda Meeting in New York
Duda confirmed the meeting to reporters just before his departure on Tuesday, noting that it was tentatively agreed upon and subject to scheduling.
This encounter with Trump will be the second for a leader from the Eastern European bloc within the European Union this year.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban met with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida last month, a meeting that drew criticism from President Joe Biden.
During a visit to the White House in 2018, Duda famously proposed the establishment of a permanent US military base in Poland, even suggesting it be named “Fort Trump.”
However, Duda’s close ties with Trump have caused friction with Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who expressed concerns about Trump’s potential impact on European security and NATO’s future.
The upcoming meeting also coincides with Speaker Mike Johnson’s plans for separate US House votes on new aid packages for Israel and Ukraine. These votes could potentially break a Republican blockade on a $60 billion aid package for Kyiv.
Trump’s previous remarks earlier this year, seemingly indicating a willingness to encourage Russian aggression against NATO members failing to meet defense spending obligations, have raised alarm among allies.
Donald Tusk expressed his hope that Trump would use the meeting to reaffirm unequivocal support for the Western world, democracy, and Europe in the Ukrainian-Russian conflict.
