Home > Opinion > Columns

'America First' and its model allies

Published: 14 Apr. 2026, 00:04

Sebastian Meitz

The author is a foreign policy and defense expert at the Sobieski Institute in Warsaw.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s visit to Seoul, scheduled for Sunday and Monday, marks the first visit by a Polish head of government in 27 years and comes at a moment of transition in the U.S.-led global security system. Despite their geographic distance, South Korea and Poland now occupy strikingly similar positions within that system. Both are emerging as key regional actors, making this visit a potential turning point for deeper bilateral cooperation.

President Lee Jae Myung and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk shake hands after a joint press conference following their summit at Cheong Wa Dae on April 13. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

South Korea has long stood at the center of the U.S. security architecture in the Indo-Pacific. Its strategic location, reinforced by U.S. troop presence, extended deterrence and advanced missile defense, ensures its continued importance. Poland, on NATO’s eastern flank, is increasingly assuming a comparable role. Investments in military infrastructure — including the Army Prepositioned Stocks-2 complex in Powidz, the Aegis Ashore site in Redzikowo and expanded facilities in Drawsko Pomorskie — have strengthened the U.S. military footprint there.

Both countries thus find themselves on the front lines of U.S. strategic interests, expected not only to ensure their own security but also to contribute to regional stability in an era of intensifying geopolitical competition. They also share an exposure to growing external pressure. South Korea faces threats from North Korea and rising pressure from China, while Poland confronts an increasingly assertive Russia, particularly since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

In response, both have strengthened their defense capabilities and recalibrated their national security strategies. South Korea has built a robust defense industry and expanded exports, while Poland has accelerated military modernization and deepened interoperability with U.S. forces. These parallel efforts reflect a shared recognition of a shifting global security environment and the need for greater self-reliance.

This convergence has translated into concrete cooperation. Facing urgent security needs, Poland turned to South Korea as a reliable partner. In 2022, Warsaw placed major orders with South Korean defense firms, acquiring K2 tanks, K9 howitzers, K239 Chunmoo rocket launchers and FA-50 fighter jets. These purchases not only replenished Poland’s depleted stockpiles — after transferring equipment to Ukraine — but also modernized its armed forces. Crucially, the systems are interoperable with U.S. military equipment.

For South Korea, the partnership offers both economic and strategic benefits. The contracts, worth about $19 billion, open pathways into NATO markets, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe. At the same time, broader economic ties are expanding, with South Korea already a significant investor in Poland. Although current trade flows show an imbalance, largely due to defense deals, the foundation for a more balanced and durable partnership is in place.

These developments must be understood in the context of evolving U.S. strategy. Washington continues to frame both countries as model allies, but its priorities are shifting. Recent strategic documents suggest that the United States will maintain an “America First” approach, with China as its primary global focus. This implies a reprioritization of resources toward the Western Hemisphere, while the Indo-Pacific and Europe are treated as secondary theaters.

Under this framework of selective engagement, greater responsibility is being transferred to trusted regional allies. This shift requires not only increased burden-sharing but also the development of new partnerships — both regional and transregional — anchored in strong economic ties and mutual commitments.

South Korea and Poland are already adapting. Seoul aims to raise defense spending to 3.5 percent of its GDP, while Poland is targeting about 4.8 percent by 2026, the highest in NATO. Both are reassessing their regional roles and exploring new avenues for cooperation. In Poland, this includes initiatives led by President Nawrocki to strengthen ties along NATO’s eastern flank across defense, energy and economic domains.

Importantly, the United States is not withdrawing from either region. Rather, its presence is evolving. This transformation places greater responsibility on allies to secure their own regions while still relying on U.S. deterrence. In this new environment, alliances are increasingly defined not by shared values alone but by the capacity to contribute to a competitive, global system.

This dynamic has created a degree of tension. Despite their growing roles, the efforts of South Korea and Poland are not yet fully reflected in existing alliance structures. Both countries have deliberately aligned with the United States and are among the most proactive in adapting to its changing priorities. They recognize that the burden of responsibility now rests more heavily on them than it did before.

Accordingly, their contributions must be acknowledged not only rhetorically but also in policy. Given their strategic locations and front line roles, South Korea and Poland should not be treated as peripheral allies. They represent twin front lines of a global security system anchored by the United States. Developments in these regions will shape not only local stability but also the future of U.S. alliances worldwide.

At the same time, their shared characteristics position them as natural partners. Their growing cooperation holds the potential to strengthen both countries and elevate their roles within the evolving global security order.

Sebastian Meitz is a foreign policy and defense expert at the Sobieski Institute in Warsaw, specializing in transatlantic relations, European security, and defense policy. His recent work has focused on U.S. strategy, NATO’s eastern flank, and Polish-German relations. He holds a degree in International Relations from the University of Warsaw, pursued doctoral studies in economics at SGH Warsaw School of Economics.