8 May 2024

WARSAW: Today the front of parliament was abuzz with a flurry of activity as a crowd of journalists and locals gathered to hear the Foreign Minister’s welcome speech for the newly arrived US Congress members. The four heads of the bipartisan Congressional Poland Caucus were beginning a three day trip around the capital, hoping to show them some appreciation for their great work championing Poland’s interests abroad. Following this morning’s speech, the delegation embarked on a photoshoot tour of a number of important Warsaw monuments, including the Monument to the Fallen and Murdered in the East which signifies the Soviet Invasion of Poland in WW2 and the George Washington Monument.

Tomorrow they will address the Sejm session before conducting talks with a number of Polish government officials, including the cabinet. It is expected that these talks will cover the breadth of Polish-American cooperation and opportunities for further improving ties. In particular the Foreign Minister has indicated his desire to discuss the pursuit of wartime reparations from Germany. Despite being the country worst affected by the Nazi regime, Poland has received little in the way of compensation, something Berlin considers a settled issue. Members of the Poland Caucus have recently called for the matter to be re-examined, a welcoming message for Polish victims of Nazi atrocities.

On their final day, the Congress members will meet with Polish and NATO troops stationed near the border with Belarus. Here officials will conduct a ceremony to award the four leaders of the caucus the Commander's Cross with Star of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland, a prestigious award given to foreigners recognising their outstanding contributions to improving relations between Poland and other states. After this, the delegation will return to Warsaw and fly home. The Prime Minister’s spokesperson has hailed such meetings as a small but incredibly essential part of diplomacy between allies.