
Nick Robinson speaks to Polish President Karol Nawrocki about the future of Europe
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Nick Robinson (BBC Presenter)
Hello, I'm Nick Robinson, BBC Presenter and this is the interview from the BBC World. The best conversations coming out of the BBC people shaping our world from all over the world.
Narrator/Commentator
Today we are spending trillions on war and peanuts on peace.
President Karel Novrotsky
Wind power in the United States has.
Mike (Weight Watchers Member)
Been subsidized for 33 years.
President Karel Novrotsky
Isn't that enough?
Mike (Weight Watchers Member)
Solar for 25 years.
President Karel Novrotsky
That's enough. I don't have army, I don't have missile rockets. I have my body, I have my voice.
I love singing and so my goal was always to do better and better at it.
I was still in an induced coma in hospital when the world was defining me.
Nick Robinson (BBC Presenter)
For this interview I spoke to the President of Poland, Karel Novrocki. A historian and a boxer by background. He was elected in June 2025 which the support of Poland's conservative opposition Law and Justice Party. He's a social conservative, a devout Catholic and a staunch supporter of Donald Trump. Telling me that The US President is the only person who can stop the threat to Europe coming from Vladimir Putin's Russia. President Novrotsky is also, like Donald Trump, an outspoken critic of the eu. Europe, he says, has lost its way.
President Karel Novrotsky
Europe for a number of years was involved in not so important things, in ideological issues, such as Green Deal, for instance, climate policy, migration issues. It was not building its resilience and its security. In Poland, we allocate close to 5% of GDP on defense. Central and Eastern Europe is aware of Russia's threat. So the matter of defence, of common defense of European Union, all those issues lie with Central and Eastern Europe. And I'm happy that Europe is mature enough to understand this threat after many years.
Nick Robinson (BBC Presenter)
Part of our conversation was in English, which the President speaks fluently. But for most of the interview, his team preferred us to speak in Polish with his words translated. Welcome to the interview from the BBC World Service with Carol Novrotsky.
Interviewer (Nick Robinson or BBC Interviewer)
Mr. President, can I begin by asking for you? The threat of Russia is very real in Poland. What does that threat mean to you?
President Karel Novrotsky
We in Poland, we don't know different Russia, Tsarist Russia, White Russia, Bolshevik Russia. On today's, Putin's Russia is always the threat for Poland, for Europe, for Central Europe. In the history, we know only the Russia who is the threatened. Even nowadays in 21st century, after aggression on Ukraine, Russia is still a threat for Europe. And Donald Trump nowadays is only one leader who can solve this problem. And we have to support him in this process.
Interviewer (Nick Robinson or BBC Interviewer)
He endorsed you as candidate to be president of Poland. But you'll know many Europeans are scared of Donald Trump. They think he's too close to Putin. They think he wants to give land to Putin. Are you saying they're wrong to be scared of him?
President Karel Novrotsky
Of course, I don't trust Vladimir Putin at all. But we have to think how we can solve the problem of Russian aggression on Ukraine. So it means that we have to do everything to support Donald Trump to solve this problem. This is most important thing. And you know, I trust myself, I trust Polish soldiers. So this is the reason why we give so many money in Poland to increase Polish budget for military service. This is most important that Europe should know that investing in military security is the goal and cooperation. Transatlantic cooperation with United States of America is indispensable.
Interviewer (Nick Robinson or BBC Interviewer)
You've got to trust Trump, you say, and you think he's right about Europe, don't you? In many ways. You think his criticism that Europe is headed in the wrong direction. You think he's got a point.
President Karel Novrotsky
You know this point of View is very similar between Donald Trump and me. Of course, Poland is the part of United Europe. I would like to stay in United Europe as the president of Poland. But this is the democracy that we can discuss about the mistakes which have been done in United Europe, problems with immigrants in Europe, ideology which is over the internal politics. This is the problem. We believe in Poland, in Polish constitution. We would like to be in United Europe to develop our economy. We don't want to be voivodeship of United Europe. It's natural. Democracy is about discussion. And we can be inside United Europe, build the solidarity of united Europe and discuss about the situation in which we are nowadays. And in this point of view, in this subject, I understand Donald Trump. He is responsible for security all over the world because he has the leader of the biggest and strongest country on the world. And he tried to convince United Europe leaders as myself that we should back the fundaments of our union.
Interviewer (Nick Robinson or BBC Interviewer)
You've met with Prime Minister Keir Starmer. You focused on the threat that Russia poses recently. Around 20 drones came over the border from Russia to Poland. Did you feel like your resolve was being tested, as if NATO's resolve was being tested too?
President Karel Novrotsky
Yes, of course. That was the essence of this drone attack in violation of the Polish border. It was an extraordinary situation because up until that time, no NATO member state had experienced a drone attack on that scale. And so that was the violation of an airspace of a country which is member of NATO. And that was the goal of Russia. There is no doubt about it. Russia was testing Poland's defense and testing NATO's solidarity. I am very glad that this Solidarity within NATO after 10th September last year, proved that indeed we are a strong alliance and that we stand in a Solidarity within NATO. I would also like to thank the British people, The British authorities thank you for sending typhoons to Poland. Of course, this sends a very bad message. As a matter of fact, Poland has been since 2021 in a state of hybrid war with the Russian Federation. There are attacks, pressure on the Polish border, drones, disinformation, misinformation, and the activity of the Russians intelligence. All of that demonstrates that we are living in dangerous times.
Interviewer (Nick Robinson or BBC Interviewer)
You're quite close politically to Donald Trump. He invited you to the Oval Office, even though I think technically it is the Prime Minister who is in charge of foreign affairs in your country. He's invited you to attend the G20 summit, as well as a big and growing economy. There are many in Europe, though, that fear that Donald Trump is too soft on Vladimir Putin. He wants to give him too much. What do you say to them?
President Karel Novrotsky
Of course, I have participated in a number of conversations with President Donald Trump. I also participated in talks between European leaders and President Trump. And I guess all of us in Europe are aware of the fact that the United States is the guarantor of security in Europe. It is not through Donald Trump, but through European leaders that Europe today is in that position in which it is today. As a matter of fact, Europe for a number of years was involved in not so important things in ideological issues, such as green deal, for instance, climate policy, migration issues. It was not building its resilience and its security. In Poland, we allocate close to 5% of GDP on defense. Central and Eastern Europe is aware of Russian threat. So the matter of defense, of common defense of European Union, all those issues lie with Central and Eastern Europe. And I'm happy that Europe is mature enough to understand this threat after many years. And Donald Trump is a leader. And generally speaking, the United States is a country which guarantees also Europe's security. So I'm a proponent of building transatlantic bonds with the United States. And this is something that I'm grateful for to President Donald Trump, that he understands how much he's needed by Europe.
Interviewer (Nick Robinson or BBC Interviewer)
And you still trust him to deliver the security for Europe? Because although you agree politically with Donald Trump, you would have good reasons. You're a historian. You're a Polish historian. You know the threat that the Kremlin poses not just to your country, but to the whole continent. And he rolled out the red carpet for Vladimir Putin, and so far he has got nothing in return. Do you worry in the way that other European leaders do, that he might give territory to Russia? And that would have implications for your security, wouldn't it?
President Karel Novrotsky
The question of trust in politics is, of course, often the matter of an idealistic view. So we should believe in our nations. And this is the way I look at our security. And what I can do. What I can do is to build strength and responsibility of Poland for its own territory and its own borders. But today, it is not possible to build a security without a strong alliances. And of course, within NATO, the strongest country is the United States of America. And I have been consistent while talking to President Trump and in larger formats with European leaders, that I completely do not trust Vladimir Putin. I know the nature of Vladimir Putin. I know the nature of the Russian Federation. But we are also aware of the fact that the only person in the world who is able to negotiate with Vladimir Putin is Donald Trump. And that is why our task is to Support Donald Trump in the negotiations. I wouldn't be a good negotiator with Vladimir Putin because I'm being persecuted or hunted by Vladimir Putin and Russian Federation. And what Donald Trump is doing also in behalf of the Europeans deserves support and great respect.
Interviewer (Nick Robinson or BBC Interviewer)
Even when Donald Trump speaks of Greenland in the way he does, he says it should be part of the United States. He says we have to do something about Greenland, like it or not. If you speak again to Donald Trump, which I'm sure you will, will you say gently, come on, Mr. President, Greenland is part of NATO. You need to be part of the club, not threatening a member of the club.
President Karel Novrotsky
I think that the discussion about Greenland should first of all remain the matter between the Prime Minister of Denmark and President Donald Trump. All of us are aware how strategic Greenland is in the context of what we are seeing before our eyes. The role of the politician is to try to predict the future. And we can see that Greenland is also in the long term perspective in the strategic shift across the globe, where we are seeing there is an attempt going on to shift the whole geopolitical order. We are seeing also an aggressive economic and military policy. On the one hand, we are seeing the military aggression of the Russian Federation. On the other hand, we can see economic competition between United States and China. And this is the context through the lens of which we are looking at Greenland. Of course, I'm deeply convinced that this matter will be resolved on the partnership basis within NATO and within democratic unity through the dialogue between the United States of America and Denmark.
Interviewer (Nick Robinson or BBC Interviewer)
But to be clear, for European leaders who say we think Donald Trump cannot be trusted, you're saying, as someone who's close to him politically, don't worry about Greenland, don't worry that Donald Trump might invade a part of the European Union.
President Karel Novrotsky
Certainly I'm not able to predict the future, but always whenever I listen to European leaders with whom I'm also in touch, because Poland is part of the European Union and I'm the advocate of Poland being part of the European Union. But this does not take away from me the democratic possibility to criticize the number of things and many mistakes that the European Union has made in its climate policy and its migration policy. For many years, Europe was not involved in the right things. The war was coming with the Russian Federation. This is something that President Kaczyski mentioned back in 2009 and 2010. And at that time, Europe was making business with Vladimir Putin. Europe was receiving Russian gas. Economic business relations were developing between the Russian Federation and Europe. It's very well that Europe is awakened right now, but Europe also has to be aware that detaching Europe from the United States States and unfortunately this is also something I'm seeing. It's neither good for economic security or military security of the European Union.
Nick Robinson (BBC Presenter)
You're listening to the interview from the BBC World Service.
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Interviewer (Nick Robinson or BBC Interviewer)
Karen Novrotsky is typical of a new.
Nick Robinson (BBC Presenter)
Rising generation of politicians in Europe who threaten to overturn the old order. Young, charismatic conservative, they see Donald Trump not as a threat, but indeed as the saviour of their continent, standing up for the same values, values which he calls patriotism. His enemies are not the US President, but the EU and strikingly, his own government. Novrotsky is in effect at war with the Prime Minister of Poland, Donald Tusk.
Interviewer (Nick Robinson or BBC Interviewer)
Who of course used to be president.
Nick Robinson (BBC Presenter)
Of the European Council, and with its foreign minister, Radek Sikorsky. Okay, let's return to my conversation with President Karen Nocki of Poland.
Interviewer (Nick Robinson or BBC Interviewer)
You say you've had your criticisms of Europe. I mean, you're a boxer before you're a politician. You're in a fight with Europe, aren't you? I mean, you criticize what Europe wants Poland to do over its judicial system, over its media system. They don't like you and you don't much like them, do they?
President Karel Novrotsky
It is not about liking. I'm not sure if I'm not liked by the European leaders. I hope that this is not the case, ladies and gentlemen, but Poland was joining the European Union to have more freedom and not have more restrictions. Poland is taking advantage of its presence in the European Union and especially in terms of the economy, in terms of the Common Market. And this is something we could be taking care of. I just want to make one point. The European Union was established on different foundations, and today it is heading in a totally different direction. In Poland. The most important thing is the constitution of the Republic of Poland. And yes, I am critical if the European Union wants to change the Polish system, if the European Union wants to tell the Polish people what to eat while destroying Polish agriculture, culture, I believe that in a democratic world within the European Union, we can discuss this.
Interviewer (Nick Robinson or BBC Interviewer)
So Donald Trump, who endorsed you, said in his national security strategy recently that he was backing patriotic European parties. Now, you're not in a political party, but you represent the right in Poland. Do you see yourself in alliance with Meloni in Italy, with Le Pen in France, with Orban in Hungary, with the leaders of the AfD in Germany? Do you see yourself as part of a movement trying to change Europe for good?
President Karel Novrotsky
Every politician you have just enumerated is different. If you are asking me whether I can imagine my cooperation with Prime Minister Meloni, I can tell you, yes, we are already cooperating. And for sure, Giorgio Meloni is a leader with whom I share many views. I believe that Donald Trump, simply, as he was saying in the presidential campaign, America first, and he is carrying out this policy. It is not a novelty and no discovery from me to see the strategy, national security strategy of the United States. This strategy reflects the words which were said by Donald Trump during his election campaign. And all of us were aware in which direction the United States was heading. So we knew that United States was going to concentrate on the Western Hemisphere on the one hand, and on the Pacific on the other hand. We had many years to adapt to that situation, and we are preparing for that situation in Poland, while building our potential and the strength of our military, while defending ourselves also against illegal migrants. And it is my great hope that Europe is going to return to its roots. This is the task and this is the discussion in which I am participating. So I hope that the European Union will be back to its economic basis. It will cling to its values, Roman, Greek values and also Christian values. And I believe this is the discussion we are having, why Europe is standing today.
Interviewer (Nick Robinson or BBC Interviewer)
On that question of values. Trump's document warned of what he called civilizational erasure. You're a politician who ran for office as a man of faith. You said faith and family were the most important things to Poland. Do you believe that Europe, that your country indeed faces a potential moment of civilizational erasure?
President Karel Novrotsky
Yes. I'm confident that the return to values, both in the Republic of Poland and across Europe, is a guarantee of a good future to all of us. The return to good transatlantic relations constructed together with the United States of America, and the departure from certain temporarily popular or fashionable ideologies which are harmful to the economy of such countries as Poland and Central European countries and Eastern European countries. Of course, Europe is composed of diverse regions. We are one Europe. But I believe this is the right time. And this is something that also Donald Trump pointed out in the United States national security strategy. There are countries in Europe which have still not departed from their foundations. And Poland is this kind of country. And now we have to start thinking how to build a common European Union and also how to build relations with the United States Kingdom and with all the countries on those foundations which were the beginning of the European Union. This is the right direction.
Interviewer (Nick Robinson or BBC Interviewer)
You say Poland is this sort of country, but the truth is, politically at least, Poland is deeply divided. You are at war with your government. You don't like the prime Minister, he doesn't like you. You don't like the Foreign Secretary, Radek Sikorski, who says that you're preparing the political and psychological ground for. For Polexit, for leaving the eu. Isn't it a problem for your country if the politicians at the top of it are at war with each other?
President Karel Novrotsky
First of all, that's not true. I'm a president who wants Poland to be part of the European Union, but who also has the right to question a certain ideological madness of the European Union that attempts to undermine the Polish constitution. I want to have free Poland within the European Union. I don't want Poland to be just one of the regions in the European Union. So on this one, Minister Radek Sikorski said something that isn't true. It is not also the case. I am a Christian. I am a Catholic. But it is not that I don't like the prime Minister or the Polish Foreign Minister, if they hate me, as you just said, this is their problem. I am looking at their activities only from the perspective of what they are bringing for Poland and what their policy is bringing to Poland, irrespective of the internal dispute that we are having. These disputes exist in Poland, in the United Kingdom and across the world. There are political disputes all over. This is a feature of democracy. As far as security is concerned, as far as the war in Ukraine is concerned, as far as the responsibility of Poland is concerned, in the international arena, we stand ready to have an agreement and to represent the Republic of Poland. So our internal disputes, we are leaving them within the borders of the Republic of Poland. Of course, there are a number of issues with which we don't agree. But people can rest assured that Poland stands ready to come together in the international arena.
Interviewer (Nick Robinson or BBC Interviewer)
I want to ask you a final question as the historian that you are. Many of us remember of a certain age, the Solidarity trade union standing up against the communist regime in Poland. You're from Gdansk, where those shipyards are. Your father, I think, was one of the early protesters against the Communist. What's gone wrong in our continent that that moment of hope that led to the fall in the Berlin Wall is now followed by deep political divides in this continent. A loss of self confidence, a lack of self belief.
President Karel Novrotsky
I think this is a fundamental question that you are posing now. What happened after 1989? There was this great movement on the one hand, and on the other hand, the awareness in Europe of the kind of threat that Russia posed. For years and for decades, it brought us to this current moment. There have been many mistakes and many errors. And those errors, those mistakes have brought us to the current situation. Of course. I am going to give you an answer which corresponds to the previous bit of our discussion. Simply said, we are departing from certain roots, from certain values. We are allowing ourselves to be imposed with certain temporary ideologies. We are being convinced that these ideologies are more important than the foundations. If we are detaching ourselves, I am speaking about Poland. If we are detaching ourselves from the values which have been a part of our DNA for a thousand years, because Poland is built on Christian values, and if you are trying to impose upon ourselves a new temporary fashion on the most sectors of the economy and education in Poland and in Europe, if they are trying to do all of that, this simply takes Europe to a turning point. So my appeal is, let us go back to our roots. Let us look at our potential. This potential is in our economy. It's also in our roots around which we are built. And then in front of Europe and in front of the United States in this permanent alliance, there will be a bright future.
Nick Robinson (BBC Presenter)
Thank you for listening to the interview. If you enjoyed this conversation, you can find many more episodes of the Interview wherever you get your BBC podcasts, including ones with Nigel Casey, the British ambassador to Russia, artificial intelligence pioneer Must Christopher Suleiman and former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. Until the next time.
Interviewer (Nick Robinson or BBC Interviewer)
Bye for now.
Narrator/Commentator
If journalism is the first draft of history, what happens if that draft is flawed? In 1999, four Russian apartment buildings were bombed, hundreds killed. But even now we still don't know for sure who did it. It's a mystery that sparked chilling theories. I'm Helena Merriman, and in a new BBC series, I'm talking to the reporters who first covered this story. What did they miss the first time? The History Bureau, Putin and the apartment bombs. Listen on BBC.com or wherever you get your podcasts.
Episode: Karol Nawrocki, Polish President: Europe has lost its way
Host: Nick Robinson
Guest: President Karol Nawrocki of Poland
Date: January 19, 2026
This episode features an in-depth conversation with Karol Nawrocki, President of Poland, historian, boxer, and social conservative. Nick Robinson explores Nawrocki’s view that Europe has “lost its way,” his deep suspicion of Russia, his endorsement of Donald Trump as Europe’s security guarantor, and his contentious relationship with the EU and his own government. The episode covers themes of security, transatlantic relations, cultural identity, and Europe’s future.
“In the history, we know only the Russia who is the threatened. Even nowadays in 21st century, after aggression on Ukraine, Russia is still a threat for Europe. And Donald Trump nowadays is only one leader who can solve this problem.”
— President Nawrocki (03:59)
“We don't want to be voivodeship of United Europe. It's natural. Democracy is about discussion.”
— President Nawrocki (05:43)
“Russia was testing Poland's defense and testing NATO's solidarity. I am very glad that this Solidarity within NATO after 10th September last year, proved that indeed we are a strong alliance...”
— President Nawrocki (07:23)
“I'm deeply convinced that this matter [Greenland] will be resolved on the partnership basis within NATO and within democratic unity through the dialogue...”
— President Nawrocki (12:20)
“Poland was joining the European Union to have more freedom and not have more restrictions.”
— President Nawrocki (17:29)
“We are allowing ourselves to be imposed with certain temporary ideologies... If we are detaching ourselves... from the values which have been a part of our DNA for a thousand years... this simply takes Europe to a turning point.”
— President Nawrocki (24:12)
This episode gives a window into the worldview of Poland’s President Karol Nawrocki: a fierce opponent of Russian aggression, stalwart transatlanticist, staunch social conservative, and courageous critic of the EU’s current ideological direction. Nawrocki insists on the necessity of American leadership in Europe (especially via Trump), resists further EU integration that undermines national sovereignty, and urges Europe to rediscover and recommit to its historic, Christian foundations. His remarks provide key insight into the new conservative-fueled political forces reshaping European politics and the balance of power in the West.