World
Poland Elects Trump Ally as New President
His win reflects concerns about migration, national sovereignty, and cultural identity.
P
oland elected karol Nawrocki, a conserva- tive historian and staunch nationalist, as president
amid a resurgence of populism in the heart of Europe. Nawrocki, who will take office on
Aug. 6, is expected to shape the coun- try’s domestic and foreign policy in ways that could strain ties with the European Union while aligning the Central European nation of near- ly 38 million people more closely with the administration of President Donald Trump. Nawrocki’s victory underscores
the enduring appeal of nationalist rhetoric among about half of the country along the eastern flank of NATO, and its deep social divisions. The 42-year-old historian, who
had no previous political experi- ence, built his campaign on patriotic themes, traditional Catholic values, and a vow to defend Poland’s sov- ereignty against larger European nations like Germany.
His win also reflects concerns
across Europe about migration, national sovereignty, and cultural identity which have led to surging support for parties on the right. Nawrocki’s presidency presents a
direct challenge to Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who returned to power in late 2023 pledging to mend relations with the EU and restore judicial indepen- dence, which Brussels said was eroded by the party that backed Nawrocki. But Tusk’s coalition — a
Poland and the U.S. are close allies,
and there are 10,000 U.S. troops sta- tioned in Poland, but Tusk and his partners in the past have been critical of Trump. Trump welcomed Nawrocki to the
White House in April, and his admin- istration made clear in other ways that he was its preferred candidate. While Nawrocki has voiced sup- port for Ukraine’s defense against Russian aggres- sion, he does not back Ukrainian membership in NATO and has questioned the long-term costs of aid — particularly support for refugees. His rhetoric has at times
fragile alliance of centrists, leftists, and agrarian conservatives — has struggled to push through key promises including a civil union law for same-sex couples and a less restric- tive abortion law. Nawrocki, who opposes such mea-
sures, will have the power to veto leg- islation, complicating Tusk’s agenda and potentially triggering political gridlock.
NAWROCKI
echoed that of Trump, for instance, by accusing
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zel- enskyy of what he said was insuf- ficient gratitude for Poland’s assis- tance.
With growing public fatigue over
helping Ukrainian refugees, Naw- rocki’s approach could shift Poland’s posture from strong ally to condi- tional partner if the war drags on much longer.
South Korea’s President Looks to Mend Fences S
outh Korea’s new center-left president, Lee Jae-myung, pledged to heal his deeply polarized country and boost its economy. He is vowing to champion more
balanced diplomacy and mend strained relations with China and North Korea while maintaining the alliance with the United States as the bedrock of national security. Although he was previously accused
LEE 46 NEWSMAX | JULY 2025
by critics of tilting toward China and North Korea and away from the U.S. and Japan, Lee stressed South Korea’s coalition with the U.S. will remain the foundation of its foreign policy.
South Korea’s exports to the U.S. fell 1.3%, to $57 billion,
in May amid uncertainty over tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump. During his reelection campaign Trump called upon Seoul
to pay billions more to host the 28,000 U.S. troops stationed in South Korea. Lee, who took ofice on June 4, is one of the most powerful
South Korean presidents in recent decades. His party holds a majority in the National Assembly, the legislature. Lee ran unsuccessfully for the presidency in 2022 and
survived an assassination attempt last year. He was elected after former President Yoon Suk Yeol, a
conservative, tried to seize the legislature by military force during a short-lived imposition of martial law in December.
NAWROCKI/JAAP ARRIENS/NURPHOTO VIA GETTY IMAGES /LEE/AP IMAGES
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