US President Donald Trump has announced the deployment of an additional 5,000 troops to Poland, just days after the Pentagon halted a planned rotation of forces to the country. The announcement, made on Truth Social, cites Trump's relationship with Polish President Karol Nawrocki, whom he endorsed in the recent election.
The move appears to reverse a decision earlier this week to delay the rotation of 4,000 US troops from the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division to Poland, as part of a broader review of US force posture in Europe. Vice-President JD Vance had defended that delay, saying Europe should take more responsibility for its defence.
Polish leaders, caught off guard by the original delay, had expressed anxiety over Russia's assertive stance amid the war in Ukraine. President Nawrocki thanked Trump for his friendship, calling the alliance a vital pillar of security. Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said the decision confirms strong Polish-American relations.
The announcement comes ahead of a Nato foreign ministers' meeting in Sweden, where US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to criticise allies for not supporting US operations in Iran. Rubio singled out Spain for denying use of bases, questioning its Nato membership.
Trump has previously threatened to withdraw from Nato over the alliance's lack of support for the US-Israeli military campaign. European concerns have also been heightened by Trump's push to acquire Greenland, a territory of Nato member Denmark.
