Trump announces 5,000 more US troops for Poland before NATO talks

HELSINGBORG: US President Donald Trump said on Friday that the United States would send an additional 5,000 troops to Poland, a move announced only hours before Secretary of State Marco Rubio was due to meet NATO foreign ministers in Sweden as disagreements persisted within the alliance over the Iran war.

Trump made the announcement in a post on Truth Social, linking the decision to his ties with Poland’s conservative nationalist president, Karol Nawrocki. He said:

Based on the successful Election of the now President of Poland, Karol Nawrocki, ​who I was proud to endorse, and our relationship with him, I am pleased to announce that the United States will be ​sending an additional 5,000 Troops to Poland

The announcement marked a sharp shift after weeks in which Trump had strongly criticised NATO members for not doing more to support the US-Israeli military campaign. He has also said he is considering withdrawing from the alliance and has questioned whether Washington remains bound by NATO’s mutual defence commitment.

Before departing for the meeting in Helsingborg, Rubio said Trump was unhappy with alliance members that had not permitted the United States to use bases on their territory for the war. He specifically mentioned Spain while speaking to reporters in Miami.

Rubio said Trump was very disappointed with some allies and added:

You have countries like Spain denying US the use of these bases - well then why are you in NATO? That's a very fair question

He also said:

In ​fairness, other countries in NATO have been very helpful. But we need to discuss that.

NATO officials have said the United States did not ask the 32-member alliance to join the Iran war. However, many member states have honoured existing commitments by allowing US forces to use their airspace and military facilities.

European concerns over NATO commitment

European unease over Trump’s approach to NATO has also been sharpened this year by his push to acquire Greenland, which is a territory of fellow alliance member Denmark.

At the Helsingborg gathering, European ministers are expected to try to reassure Washington by emphasising that they are prepared to help safeguard freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz when conditions allow, while also taking on greater responsibility for Europe’s own security. Iran has restricted traffic through the strait during the war.

European concerns have also grown because of a decision to withdraw 5,000 troops from Europe, announced before Thursday’s pledge to send additional forces to Poland. It was not immediately clear where the extra troops for Poland would come from.

Allied governments have also been unsettled by the way the troop decision was conveyed. US officials initially said the troops would be withdrawn from Germany, but later said they would instead delay the deployment of a brigade to Poland.

The United States has also said that a planned deployment of long-range Tomahawk missiles to Germany will no longer proceed. In addition, Reuters reported, citing three sources familiar with the matter, that Washington plans to tell NATO allies it will reduce the pool of military capabilities it makes available to the alliance in a crisis.

NATO’s top commander, US Air Force General Alexus Grynkewich, sought this week to calm European allies over the recent decisions. He said any further drawdowns would be spread over years, giving allies time to build the capabilities needed to replace US contributions.