22 May 2023
Tomasz Dumowski, TVP Info: (There are uninterupted ongoing deliveries of LNG to the terminal in Swinoujscie, mainly, among others, from the United States. US Ambassador Mark Brzezinski today visited the LNG terminal in Swinoujscie. Hello Mr. Ambassador.)
Ambassador Brzezinski: Hi Tomasz, welcome to the American Embassy. So happy you’re here. Welcome TVP. “Witamy.”
Tomasz Dumowski, TVP Info: Before moving to the energy safety issue, I would like to ask you about your first impression. You have visited the LNG terminal in Swinoujscie today.
Ambassador Brzezinski: Yes.
Tomasz Dumowski, TVP Info: How do you find it?
Ambassador Brzezinski: The Swinoujscie terminal is state of the art. I feel that in Swinoujscie, I saw Poland’s energy future in part. It’s a state of the art LNG facility; the ground was broken on it 13 years ago. And today, I was able to bear witness to an American ship filled with LNG from the state of Louisiana, delivering liquefied natural gas to this facility in Swinoujscie. That is so important, Tomasz. Why? Because Russia when it attacked Ukraine tried to divide Europe by using energy as a weapon and cutting off gas supplies to European customers. Using energy as a weapon has to stop in this part of the world. Poland, is developing its own answer through building out at Swinoujscie and elsewhere through using civil nuclear. I also went to the GE plant near Szececin, that is making large wind turbines. That’s another form of alternative energy. Two thirds of all liquefied natural gas delivered to Swinoujscie in the last year was from the United States. That is a partnership that delivers for the future. That’s what I saw today, Poland and America working on our shared energy future together.
Tomasz Dumowski, TVP Info: It’s a fact that those supplies guarantee Poland’s energy safety, but what does this cooperation mean for the United States of America? Is it beneficial for your country in any way or is it just business?
Ambassador Brzezinski: Well, energy security, Tomasz, is national security. And Poland’s security is interdependent with America’s security. We are all part of the transatlantic relationship, and we are only as strong as the weakest link. So we, the Americans, want Poland to be strong in terms of energy security. That is in our self interest, as well. The fact that you’re using American technology for nuclear, that you’re buying American LNG, that the technology to make these wind turbines comes from GE, is an example of our technology and resources meshing together. We’re relying on Poland for so many different dimensions of security today: whether it’s military security, or humanitarian security. I’ve often called Poland a humanitarian superpower because of the embrace of Ukrainian refugees, that it is doing. The fact that Poland is embracing millions of Ukrainian refugees is a contribution to American security. We see that as well. So there is a meshing together between America and Poland, in terms of different dimensions of our relationship: security, business, values, democracy, people to people like never before.
Tomasz Dumowski, TVP Info: But our governments made many different deals, many different agreements: energy, economic and military. I believe I can call it more partnership than cooperation. Can you describe how this partnership will look in the future?
Ambassador Brzezinski: Well, let me just point to this man right here (points to photo on mantle piece), President Joe Biden, who was here in February, and how did he describe the partnership? He said the American Polish relationship is a critical, critical, critical relationship. You are on the frontlines of protecting and defending democracy against an attack on Ukraine by Russia. That is more credibility than anyone would ever hope for from a partner and from an ally. We see how Poland is delivering in terms of investing in its military future, investing in its energy future, embracing refugees. American businesses like GE and so many others – for example, the ones that I visited today at the LNG terminal – feel good about investing in Poland. Why? Because the Polish labor force is “bardzo pracowity i bardzo loyalny.” And that’s very attractive for American investors. So ultimately, at its core, this relationship is about two peoples, the American people and the Polish people, coming together in ways that are organically around shared interests. The number of shared interests that America and Poland have today are as broad and deep as any time in the past. And I’m proud to be here as the US ambassador, especially now because of that.
