Washington: US President Donald Trump has said the United States will send an additional 5,000 troops to Poland, days after the Pentagon unexpectedly cancelled a previously planned troop deployment to the country.
Trump announced the decision on social media, describing the move as a reflection of the close relationship between Washington and Polish President Karol Nawrocki.
The US president did not clarify whether the new deployment replaces the cancelled plan involving 4,000 troops or forms part of a separate military operation.
The announcement comes as the White House continues reviewing America’s military presence across Europe under Trump’s “America First” foreign policy agenda.
In recent weeks, US officials have signalled that troop levels in parts of Europe could be reduced as Washington reassesses defence commitments with NATO allies.
Earlier this month, the US announced plans to withdraw around 5,000 troops from Germany following tensions between Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz over the conflict involving Iran.
Trump has repeatedly criticised several NATO members for failing to contribute more to defence spending and regional security responsibilities.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to discuss burden-sharing and military cooperation during a NATO foreign ministers meeting in Sweden.
The Pentagon previously described the cancelled Poland deployment as only a temporary delay, insisting the US would maintain a strong military presence in the country.
Poland has become one of Washington’s closest security partners in Eastern Europe amid ongoing concerns about regional tensions involving Vladimir Putin and the war in Ukraine.
Nawrocki, a strong supporter of Trump, has argued that the United States remains Europe’s main security guarantor despite disagreements within the NATO alliance.
The United States currently maintains tens of thousands of troops across Europe, with Germany hosting the largest American military presence on the continent.
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