Nato chief welcomes US sending 5,000 troops to Poland
The announcement comes ahead of a Nato foreign ministers’ meeting in Sweden, as the US balances an 'America First' pullout from Germany with new commitments in Warsaw.
US President Donald Trump has announced the deployment of an additional 5,000 troops to Poland, a significant reversal that follows the Pentagon’s cancellation last week of a planned 4,000-troop deployment to the same country. The decision was communicated via Truth Social on Thursday, with Trump attributing the move to the strong relationship between the United States and Polish President Karol Nawrocki, whom he backed during last year’s presidential elections.
Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte welcomed the announcement ahead of a meeting of foreign ministers in Helsingborg, Sweden, though he cautioned that the broader trajectory towards Europe becoming less reliant on the US would continue. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk described the development as "good news," thanking President Nawrocki and US officials for their "unity of action" in securing the deployment.
The shift in policy contrasts with the White House’s recent signals regarding an "America First" agenda, which includes a previously announced withdrawal of 5,000 troops from Germany. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth had previously characterised the cancellation of the 4,000-troop deployment to Poland as a "temporary delay," asserting that Washington intends to maintain a strong military presence in the region. It remains unclear whether the newly announced forces are part of the German withdrawal or a separate operational group.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is expected to call for increased burden-sharing from Nato partners at the upcoming talks, cited the Poland deployment as an area of continued cooperation despite broader tensions. Rubio expressed disappointment with some allies over their response to operations in the Middle East, particularly regarding Iran, but clarified that the troop movements were not a punitive measure. He noted there had been "slight progress" in negotiations with Iran but provided no further details.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul also welcomed the US decision, stating it serves the security of the entire alliance. Wadephul confirmed that Germany is in ongoing discussions with the US regarding the deployment of long-range missile systems. The US currently maintains its largest military presence in Europe in Germany, with more than 36,000 troops on active duty, compared to approximately 12,000 in Italy and 10,000 in the UK.
