The U.S. occupies a special place in Polish strategic culture. Polish security is built on the premise of an American presence in Europe. Poles are strong Atlanticists, claiming common historical and value-based foundations for U.S. cooperation and promotion in Europe. The special status that Poles want to see in this relationship is anchored as much in historical experiences as in contemporary, vibrant economic and security cooperation. Poles see themselves as U.S. protegees as well as reliable allies within NATO and bilateral cooperation. That also often impacts cooperation with European partners, particularly in terms of security. The new dynamic in U.S. domestic politics and negative trends in international relations as the country pivots more towards the Pacific demand some adjustments in Poland’s approach to transatlantic relations.