Since taking over the Polish government in October, the Law and Justice party has based its domestic governing strategy on introducing measures that extend the party's political control of the country. Abroad, Warsaw has signaled that it will resist aspects of EU integration while seeking to strengthen its ties with other Central and Eastern European countries. Both strategies are meant to prepare Poland to handle EU divisions and potential Russian aggression. In some ways, Poland is beginning to follow in Hungary's footsteps by distancing itself from Brussels. Yet unlike Hungary, Poland is more ready to resist Russian influence in the region . Such contradicting trends pervade the countries between the Baltic and Black seas. Many share common features, including young democracies, painful memories of Soviet domination and growing doubts about the future security of the European Union. But these countries also have their own priorities and interests.