Warsaw Faces Embarrassment After Polish Attaché Barred From US Talks

A serious diplomatic incident has unfolded during a Polish military visit to the United States after Colonel Krzysztof Norbert, Poland's military attaché, was expelled from official talks at the Pentagon under unexplained circumstances.

Unexpected Exclusion at the Pentagon

According to Onet, the incident occurred on December 9, when Polish military representatives arrived in Washington for scheduled negotiations with their American counterparts. Moments before the meeting began, colleagues from the Polish delegation reportedly barred Colonel Norbert from entering the building.

"No delegation can enter the Pentagon without the support of its attaché. Now the Americans are asking whether our attaché can be trusted, since his own delegation asked him to leave official talks. They are questioning whether he still has authority. This is a complete disgrace.”

The statement, attributed to a senior Polish military officer, underscores the reputational damage caused by the incident, particularly in the eyes of the United States defense establishment.

Internal Polish Military Conflict

Sources cited by Onet indicate that the decision to exclude the attaché was made internally by the Polish delegation itself. Upon returning to Poland, General Adam Rzeczkowski was informed of what was described as scandalous behavior, but reportedly defended his actions by citing alleged "instructions from superiors.”

According to multiple sources, the key figure behind the decision was General Andrzej Kowalski, the head of the Polish delegation, a move that has fueled speculation about internal power struggles and a breakdown of military protocol.

Broader Political Context

The Pentagon incident comes amid growing political tension within Poland's leadership. On December 17, Prime Minister Donald Tusk publicly complained that President Karol Nawrocki had ignored his phone calls for weeks.

Tusk stated that repeated attempts to coordinate closely with the president on foreign policy matters had gone unanswered, highlighting a widening communication gap at the highest levels of the Polish state.

Diplomatic Fallout

The exclusion of a military attaché from talks with the United States — Poland's key security partner — is widely viewed as a severe breach of diplomatic norms. Military attachés traditionally serve as essential intermediaries during such negotiations, and their absence raises concerns about trust, continuity, and credibility.

Analysts note that the episode may complicate Poland's defense dialogue with Washington at a time of heightened regional security challenges and internal political fragmentation.