Polish defence minister cancels US visit amid urgent NATO security talks

Poland's defence minister announced on X that his scheduled meeting with US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has been cancelled following an urgent appeal from the American side. The talks were expected to cover Polish security concerns and the potential siting of a PAC-3 missile-servicing centre for Patriot systems on Polish soil. In response, deputy ministers Magdalena Sobkowiak-Czarnecka and Paweł Zalewski are set to travel to Washington to engage with US officials and prepare additional agreements on bilateral defence cooperation.

The change comes after signals from the United States and a recent NATO chiefs meeting, prompting swift action on Pact security matters. Professor Sławomir Cenckiewicz remarked that only the President of Poland has open doors in Washington, underscoring the diplomatic sensitivity of the issue.