
Latest Articles about Central Europe

Warsaw Views Trump–Nawrocki Meeting with Cautious Optimism
Executive Summary: U.S. President Donald Trump and Polish President Karol Nawrocki met at the White House on September 3, garnering much attention in Poland since the country views its alliance with the United States as the cornerstone of its security policy. Nawrocki, then a Polish... MORE

Belarus and Poland Share Military Information Despite Worsening Political Relations
Executive Summary: On September 10, Poland shot down at least 19 Russian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that had violated its airspace. Afterward, Poland invoked Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) founding treaty. Belarus’s armed forces notified Poland and Lithuania about the incoming... MORE

Moscow Downplays Drone Incursion on Poland
Executive Summary: Russia’s September 9–10 drone attack, when at least 19 decoy Gerbera drones entered Polish airspace, caused little physical damage but triggered a swift response, including operation “Eastern Sentry,” in a kinetic test of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) resolve. Moscow’s incursion occurred alongside... MORE

Extradition Treaty Signals Beijing’s Wider Designs in Hungary
Executive Summary: Beijing and Budapest have reportedly finalized the details of an extradition treaty that reflects Beijing’s growing involvement in Hungary’s internal security. The new treaty comes as the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has begun investing heavily in various sectors of the Hungarian economy.... MORE

Russian Intelligence Recruits Refugees and Migrants in NATO Countries for Espionage
Executive Summary: Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, harsh sanctions, growing awareness among North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member states of Russian intelligence tactics, and enhanced counterintelligence operations have made the Kremlin’s traditional information-gathering methods nearly impossible. Following widespread expulsions of Russian diplomats... MORE

Polish-Ukrainian Relations Questioned in the Wake of Poland’s Presidential Elections
Jamestown Senior Fellow Janusz Bugajski just returned from a trip to Warsaw and Kyiv. He is the author of Pivotal Poland: Europe’s Rising Power. The book explores Warsaw’s determined efforts to shape NATO’s eastern policy, to maintain a strong alliance with the United States, and to... MORE

Hungary Courts the Turkic World
Executive Summary: Hungary hosted an informal summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) in May 2025, aiming to strengthen Budapest’s strategic positioning between the East and West, diversify diplomatic alliances, and boost the organization’s regional influence in Eurasia. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is... MORE

Hungary Becomes Main Lobbyist for Georgian Dream Government in Europe
Executive Summary Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze’s recent visit to Hungary, by personal invitation of his Hungarian counterpart, Viktor Orbán, underlines growing cooperation between Tbilisi and Budapest, as the European Union accuses the Georgian Dream government of suppressing democratic protests and violating human rights. Orbán... MORE

Kremlin Increases Anti-Poland Propaganda
Executive Summary: Russia is intensifying its hybrid warfare against Poland through cyberattacks, sabotage, and disinformation, while portraying Polish defensive actions as provocations to fuel domestic narratives and justify ongoing hostility. Kremlin propaganda is beginning to shift focus from Ukraine to Poland as an adversary, anticipating... MORE

Poland’s Presidential Elections Reveal Domestic Fissures and National Commitments
Jamestown Senior Fellow Janusz Bugajski is the author of Pivotal Poland: Europe’s Rising Power. The book explores the nature and context of Warsaw’s determined efforts to shape NATO’s eastern policy, maintain a strong alliance with the United States, and build a robust, modern military capable of... MORE