Poland pledges support for US-led fight against IS

US Secretary of State John Kerry (R) shakes hands with Polish Foreign Minister Grzegorz Schetyna (L) after a meeting at the State Department in Washington, DC, USA 07 January 2015. EPA/SHAWN THEW

Discussions revolved around NATO cooperation. However, as John Beauchamp reports, the shooting of twelve people at the Charlie Hebdo satirical magazine in Paris by Muslim extermists on the same day overshadowed the meeting, leading to renewed calls by Washington to engage against Islamic State.

“We raised this issue and Poland is ready to undertake greater efforts than before: we spoke on this matter in Brussels in December and we will continue it at a meeting of NATO defence ministers in Brussels at the beginning of February, and I’m sure this will lead to a positive conclusion,” Schetyna said.

John Kerry also underlined the countries’ efforts to strengthen Ukraine’s sovereignty, going onto highlight economic ties between Poland and the US, including the modernisation of Poland’s armed forces. “Poland is a very important ally,” Kerry said.