Radosław Sikorski will speak as NATO leaders debate America's role in the alliance
(CLAIR | Simi Valley, CA) — The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute will host Polish Deputy Prime Minister Radosław "Radek" Sikorski on Tuesday, July 14, for a conversation on the future of the U.S.-Europe alliance.
The event comes as world leaders gather for a NATO summit where the role of American leadership in the alliance is under debate. Sikorski, who also serves as Poland's Minister of Foreign Affairs, will discuss why the transatlantic partnership remains critical and how President Reagan's legacy shaped Poland's relationship with the West.
The conversation is timed to coincide with America's 250th anniversary. It will take place at the Reagan Library and begin at 6 p.m.
Sikorski has held his current position as Deputy Prime Minister since July 2025 and has served as Foreign Minister since December 2023. He previously served as Poland's Minister of Defence from 2005 to 2007, Foreign Minister from 2007 to 2014, and Speaker of the Sejm from 2014 to 2015.
During his earlier tenure as Foreign Minister, Sikorski launched the European Union's Eastern Partnership alongside Carl Bildt, former Prime Minister of Sweden. He also helped establish the European Endowment for Democracy and the Solidarity Prize.
From 2019 to 2023, Sikorski served in the European Parliament, where he sat on the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Security and Defence Subcommittee. He chaired the Delegation for relations with the United States.
Poland has been one of NATO's most vocal advocates for maintaining strong U.S. involvement in European security, particularly following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The country shares a border with both Ukraine and Russia's Kaliningrad exclave.
The Reagan Library, located at 40 Presidential Drive, has become a frequent venue for discussions on international affairs and U.S. foreign policy. The library and museum attract visitors from around the world and regularly host world leaders and policy experts.
The Reagan Foundation and Institute describes itself as a nonpartisan organization created by President Reagan to advance his principles of individual liberty, economic opportunity, freedom and democracy, peace through strength, and national pride. The organization operates both the library in Simi Valley and a policy institute in Washington, D.C.
President Reagan's 1987 speech in Berlin, where he challenged Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to "tear down this wall," remains a defining moment in U.S.-European relations and the eventual end of the Cold War. Poland's transition from communist rule to democracy began in 1989, two years after that speech.
The conversation with Sikorski offers a chance to hear from a leader whose country has lived through both Soviet domination and membership in NATO and the European Union. Poland joined NATO in 1999 and the EU in 2004.
For those interested in attending, more information is available on the Reagan Foundation website. The event is open to the public, though registration may be required.
The timing of Sikorski's visit underscores the ongoing debate over America's commitments abroad and how those commitments shape security in Europe. With Poland on NATO's eastern flank, Sikorski brings a perspective shaped by geography and history.
