WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland's president is traveling to Washington for a security summit but has no meeting scheduled with President Barack Obama. Observers in Poland say controversial government policies may be the reason.

Before he attends the Nuclear Security Summit on Thursday and Friday, President Andrzej Duda is to meet with U.S. media to defend Polish government policies which have sparked street protests and have drawn censure from European Union leaders and institutions, and from some U.S. senators and media.

The lack of a meeting with Obama has prompted speculation it may be in reaction to policies that, among other things, have paralyzed a top Polish court.

A staunch U.S. ally, Poland is counting on Washington's understanding, especially ahead of a NATO summit in July in Warsaw.