US Sends More Troops to Poland Amid NATO Tensions

United States President Donald Trump has announced plans to send an additional 5,000 American troops to Poland, a move that has surprised NATO allies and intensified uncertainty about US military policy in Europe.

Trump made the announcement on social media, linking the deployment to his strong relationship with newly elected Polish President Karol Nawrocki. The decision came only days after reports suggested that a previously planned troop deployment to Poland had been cancelled.

Polish leaders welcomed the announcement, with Nawrocki describing the move as a sign of strong cooperation and shared security between the two countries. Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski also said the deployment would help maintain the current level of American military presence in Poland.

The move represents a major shift from recent statements by the Trump administration suggesting it wanted to reduce US military involvement in Europe under the “America First” policy. Trump has repeatedly criticised European NATO members for not spending enough on defence and has warned that the United States could reduce its commitments to the alliance.

Earlier this month, Trump announced plans to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany following tensions with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The Pentagon had also recently stated that it would cancel another planned deployment of troops to Poland.

The conflicting decisions have created confusion among European NATO countries, many of which are trying to strengthen their own defence systems while Russia’s war in Ukraine continues. European officials say they are struggling to understand which military priorities Washington intends to support in the future.

Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard described the situation as difficult to navigate, while reports suggest even some American defence officials remain uncertain about the administration’s long-term plans.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte welcomed the troop deployment but also stressed that European countries must become less dependent on the United States for security.

The Pentagon has meanwhile confirmed plans to reduce the number of US combat brigades stationed in Europe from four to three, adding further uncertainty about Washington’s future military role on the continent.