US President Donald Trump says the United States will send an additional 5,000 troops to Poland.
Trump made the announcement in a social media post on Thursday. He noted that the decision was based on the election of Poland’s new president, Karol Nawrocki, and Nawrocki’s relationship with the US. But Trump did not provide details, such as the timing of the deployment.
During last year’s presidential election campaign in Poland, Nawrocki expressed support for Trump’s America First policy. Nawrocki won the election.
Trump stated earlier this month that he plans to reduce the number of US troops in Germany by about 5,000. He made the remark after Chancellor Friedrich Merz questioned Washington’s approach to the conflict with Iran.
Trump has been stepping up his criticisms of NATO member states over the Iran conflict. He has also indicated that he may reduce the number of US troops stationed in Italy and Spain.
The US political website Politico said Trump’s latest announcement is “an apparent reversal of his moves to reduce the presence of American forces in Europe to punish NATO for a lack of support with the Iran war.”
Observers are now wondering how involved the Trump administration is going to be in the defense of Europe.