Before the spring session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, taking place in Warsaw on 25-28 May, people were asked about their attitude towards Poland’s membership of the Alliance and associated issues of security.

Over the last two decades Poland’s membership of NATO has been supported by a decided majority of Polish people. Moreover, pro-NATO attitudes have become particularly widespread since April 2014, after the ‘referendum’ in the Crimea and its subsequent annexation by the Russian Federation. At that time the percentage of those supporting Poland’s membership of NATO surged by 19 points over the February 2014 result, to 81%, with a simultaneous plunge of 16 points in those who claimed they did not care whether Poland was in NATO or not. Currently Poland’s membership is supported by 79% of those surveyed, and 44% are strongly in favour. Opposition to Poland’s membership was always limited to a relatively small group of respondents (currently 3%) and those who cannot make up their minds are also a tiny minority.

There has been another rise in the percentage of respondents who believe Poland can be sure that her NATO allies will engage in defence of her borders should the need arise. At present 61% of people hold this opinion, 2 percentage points more than in February 2017 and the same as in May 2014, while 29% of those surveyed are doubtful, so slightly more than previously (a rise of one point).

More on this subject in the CBOS report.