Obama, Komorowski Reaffirm Alliance

Presidents pledge to expand strategic and defense cooperation, support deeper economic links between U.S. and Poland in Wednesday meeting.

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

December 8, 2010
Joint Statement by President Obama and President Komorowski of Poland

President Barack Obama and President Bronislaw Komorowski reaffirmed today their commitment to strengthening the U.S.-Polish alliance by expanding strategic and defense cooperation, supporting deeper economic links, and promoting democratic institutions in Europe and around the world. The two leaders resolved to continue to work together to ensure that transatlantic ties remain strong and relevant to the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century.

President Obama conveyed his deepest condolences over the devastating and tragic loss of President Lech Kaczynski and First Lady Maria Kaczynska, along with many of Poland's top civilian and military leaders, in the April 10, 2010 air crash. President Obama reiterated his admiration for the strength of Poland’s institutions and the resilience of its people.

President Komorowski expressed his gratitude to the President of the United States and the American people for their solidarity and compassion in those difficult times.

A STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP FOR THE 21st CENTURY

Both Presidents applauded the outcomes of the Lisbon NATO Summit, including the allied commitment to reaffirm the primacy of our Article 5 obligations to one another’s security and to adopt territorial missile defense as a core mission. President Obama confirmed the commitment of the United States to implement the Phased Adaptive Approach to European missile defense, including basing land-based SM-3 interceptors in Poland as part of this program in the 2018 timeframe, and expressed his gratitude for the commitment by the government of Poland to host this system. Poland’s commitment is an extremely valuable contribution to the development of a NATO missile defense capability.