US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday via his Truth Social platform that an additional 5,000 American troops would be deployed to Poland, citing his relationship with Polish President Karol Nawrocki and his endorsement of Nawrocki's successful election campaign.
This announcement directly contradicts a Pentagon statement from just two days earlier, which declared a reduction of US Army Brigade Combat Teams in Europe from four to three. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell described the reduction as part of a “comprehensive, multilayered process” aimed at advancing Trump's “America First” agenda and encouraging NATO allies to take primary responsibility for Europe's conventional defense.
Vice President JD Vance had also told reporters earlier this week that a troop deployment to Poland had been delayed, with Parnell confirming a “temporary delay” due to the reduction of brigade combat teams in Europe.
Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz and his deputy Cezary Tomczyk have denied that the US reduction would affect Poland, insisting that any repositioning would impact Germany instead. Tomczyk stated that Poland is continuously working to strengthen the American troop presence.
The development follows the US announcement in May to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany amid a public spat between Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who had claimed that Iran was “humiliating” the US at the negotiating table.
Trump hosted Nawrocki at the White House in May last year and endorsed him ahead of the Polish election, in which the nationalist politician defeated the candidate of Prime Minister Donald Tusk's centrist, pro-European party. Nawrocki later recalled Trump telling him, “You will win.” The two leaders met again in September, with Trump pledging to increase US troop presence and secure Poland's defense.
Poland is a key NATO member with one of Europe's largest and best-funded militaries, spending 4.48% of its GDP on defense—the highest in the alliance according to NATO 2025 figures.
Source: www.dw.com