BRUSSELS — Poland’s government is up in arms over a U.S. move to limit the export of artificial intelligence chips to the country — something that could impact Warsaw’s AI ambitions just as it seeks to position itself as a dependable transatlantic military ally.
As a frontline, long-time adversary of Russia, Warsaw is proportionally the biggest military spender in NATO and has prioritized ties to the United States. It therefore came as a shock when Warsaw was the most notable European Union victim of the decision by the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden last week to cap coveted AI chip exports.
Polish ministers are hitting back hard against the American decision, claiming it could undermine the country’s tech sector and its military build-up. The block on AI chips was “incomprehensible,” said Krzysztof Paszyk, the minister for economic development and technology.
Mark Brzezinski, U.S. ambassador to Poland, was asked to explain the decision just before he left his post on Monday, the Polish ministry for economic development said in e-mailed remarks shared with POLITICO. Deputy Minister Michał Baranowski will also raise the issue during a trip to the U.S. this week.
The row reveals how European allies can easily become collateral damage to U.S. efforts to contain China’s technological advances. Presidents Biden and Donald Trump have both ratcheted up efforts to choke off China’s access to high-tech products such as advanced chips, at times to the detriment of European companies.
Last Monday, the U.S. announced that only 18 allied countries, including 10 EU countries, could continue to buy AI chips without restrictions. Europe relies heavily for these on U.S.-based companies, such as the world’s leading chip designer, Nvidia. Poland is not part of that group of 18 and now faces caps on how many AI chips it can buy.
The U.S. move was met with “deep surprise,” Paszyk wrote. “The omission of Poland among the 18 key allies and partners is a decision that I find incomprehensible.”
The Polish government is concerned about the cap’s impact on the country’s technological sector and military expansion. “Poland has been investing in the development of the high-tech sector for years, and possible restrictions may adversely affect the pace and scope of this process,” the economic development ministry wrote.
Poland’s military build-up could be hit because it is developing AI systems that could help monitor and respond to enemy threats. The ministry said the introduction of U.S. export restrictions could limit the opportunities to develop these systems further.
The country is now betting on its good relationships with the U.S. to reverse the move. “Poland and the United States are bound by strategic partnership ties in the most important areas of life,” Paszyk wrote, citing U.S. investments in Poland as well as collaborations on nuclear energy and weapons purchases for the Polish army.
Poland is also eyeing EU action from the Commissioner in charge of technological security.
“I will personally ask Commissioner Henna Virkkunen to take decisive action,” Polish Digital Affairs Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski posted on X last week.
Virkkunen and Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič pushed back against the U.S. move last week.
The Polish opposition blamed the government, arguing it could have avoided the chip caps if it had dedicated more effort to relationships with the U.S.
“This situation highlights a broader issue: the lack of proactive engagement by the Polish government with our transatlantic partners,” said Adam Bielan, a Polish lawmaker in the European Parliament for the Law and Justice party, in written remarks shared with POLITICO.
“Despite President Andrzej Duda’s call over a year ago to prioritize transatlantic relations, little meaningful action has been taken,” he said, adding that the U.S. decision “raises significant questions about future access to critical technologies.”
“It is my hope that this issue will serve as a wake-up call.”
By Pieter Haeck Read more here: https://www.politico.eu/article/poland-fumes-us-block-joe-biden-ai-chips-cap-export/
