The United States wants Poland to become a permanent member of the G20 “as soon as possible” and plans to press other countries to support its admission, according to a statement from the US State Department. Washington has also proposed including Poland’s membership in the declaration being negotiated for December’s G20 summit, marking a further step in Warsaw’s campaign for a permanent place among the world’s major economies.
The State Department confirmed its plans to the Polish Press Agency (PAP) on Sunday, 11 October, saying the US would continue discussions with other G20 members during the remainder of its presidency.
In the statement, Washington pointed to Poland’s sustained economic growth and increasing international influence as reasons for supporting its application.
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The US also praised Poland’s contribution to G20 working groups and ministerial meetings held this year.
According to PAP’s reporting on the State Department statement, the proposal will be discussed during an upcoming video conference involving representatives of G20 member countries.
However, American support does not guarantee Poland a permanent seat. Such a decision would require agreement among the existing members, including Russia.
Washington wants Poland at the G20 table permanently
The G20 brings together 19 countries and two regional organisations, the European Union and African Union. Its members account for approximately 85% of global economic output and more than three-quarters of international trade.
The forum provides a platform for major economies to coordinate their approaches to financial stability, international trade, investment and other global economic challenges.
Poland is not currently a permanent member, although it has participated in G20 meetings throughout 2026 at the invitation of the United States, which holds the group’s rotating presidency.
The Polish Finance Ministry confirmed in August that Poland was participating with full rights in the year’s working meetings and wanted to turn that temporary role into a lasting position.
Washington had already expressed support for Poland’s ambitions earlier this year. In April, a joint Polish-American statement issued following bilateral talks in Warsaw confirmed US backing for permanent Polish membership.
The latest State Department declaration goes further by outlining Washington’s intention to continue pursuing the matter through G20 negotiations.
According to PAP, the American presidency has proposed language concerning Poland’s permanent membership for inclusion in the final declaration being prepared for the December summit in Miami.
That wording remains a proposal, not an agreed decision.
Poland’s economic growth strengthens its case
Poland’s bid reflects its economic transformation since the fall of communism and its emergence as one of Europe’s largest economies.
The country has developed into a major manufacturing, transport and services centre, supported by foreign investment, integration with European markets and sustained economic growth.
Polish officials argue that the country’s economic weight and importance to Central and Eastern Europe justify a permanent role in discussions about global economic policy.
In August, Finance and Economy Minister Andrzej Domański said Poland wanted to use its participation in the G20 to contribute to international debates on economic growth, innovation, deregulation and energy security.
At the end of September, Domański represented Poland at a meeting of G20 trade ministers in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
He later acknowledged that negotiations over permanent membership were difficult and complex, while maintaining that Poland had strong arguments in its favour.
As TVP World reported following the Milwaukee discussions, Domański also expressed confidence that Poland could receive another invitation to participate in the forum next year.
Permanent membership would give Poland its own continuing seat in G20 discussions, rather than depending on invitations from countries holding the annual presidency.
It would not, however, automatically give Poland control over decisions made by the group, which operates through cooperation and consensus.
Russia could complicate Poland’s bid
The most significant obstacle is the requirement for agreement among existing G20 members.
Russia remains a permanent member of the forum despite its full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the deterioration of relations with Poland and other Western countries.
Any attempt to expand permanent membership would therefore need to address Moscow’s position.
There has been no confirmed Russian agreement to Poland’s admission, but Russia has also not publicly established its position on the latest American proposal.
Polish officials recognise the difficulty.
Following a G20 representatives’ meeting in Washington on 2 October, Marcin Przydacz, head of President Karol Nawrocki’s International Policy Bureau, outlined several possible outcomes.
According to the Polish president’s official account of those discussions, Poland’s preferred outcome is full permanent membership, which would make it the G20’s 22nd member, counting the EU and African Union.
Przydacz acknowledged that achieving the necessary consensus would not be easy.
An alternative would be permanent guest status, similar to the arrangement enjoyed by Spain.
A third possibility would involve Poland continuing to participate through invitations from future G20 presidencies, including the United Kingdom in 2027 and South Korea in 2028.
The differences are significant: a permanent seat would formalise Poland’s position, while guest participation would offer access without the same membership status.
December summit could bring the next breakthrough
Poland’s diplomatic campaign is continuing ahead of the G20 leaders’ summit in Miami on 14–15 December.
President Karol Nawrocki is expected to represent Poland at the meeting, following an invitation from US President Donald Trump.
Polish officials are also seeking support from countries beyond Europe and North America.
Przydacz has outlined plans for presidential visits to Saudi Arabia, Senegal and Argentina as Warsaw works to strengthen backing among countries commonly described as part of the Global South.
The next immediate step is a planned video conference of G20 representatives, known as sherpas, who negotiate positions and prepare agreements ahead of leaders’ summits.
The United States intends to use those discussions to advance Poland’s membership proposal.
For Warsaw, the latest American declaration represents an important diplomatic endorsement of its ambitions. Poland has already gained access to the G20’s work through Washington’s invitation, and the US is now seeking to make that participation permanent.
Whether Poland joins the group will depend on securing agreement from the other members.
