HELSINGBORG: NATO allies and defense officials expressed bewilderment on Friday at US President Donald Trump's announcement of sending 5,000 US troops to Poland, just weeks after ordering the same number to pull out of Europe. The apparent change of mind came after weeks of statements from Trump and his administration about reducing the US military footprint in Europe.
Initial Order Caused Confusion
Trump's initial order set off a flurry of action among military commanders and left allies, already doubtful about America's commitment to Europe's security, to ponder what forces they might use to fill the vacuum on NATO's eastern flank with Russia and Ukraine. Earlier this month, the Trump administration said it was reducing its military presence in Europe by about 5,000 troops, and US officials confirmed that about 4,000 service members were no longer rotating into Poland from Germany. The German dispatch of US personnel trained to fire long-range missiles was also halted.
Trump's Latest Post
But in a post on Truth Social on Thursday, Trump said he would now send "an additional 5,000 Troops to Poland," citing his strong ties with Polish President Karol Nawrocki, whom Trump endorsed in elections last year. Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard told reporters on Friday, at a meeting she was hosting of her NATO counterparts including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, "It is confusing indeed, and not always easy to navigate." Ministers from the Netherlands and Norway were optimistic about Trump's latest move, as was Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže, who said allies knew the US troop "posture was being reconsidered, and now there is no change of posture, for now."
US Defense Officials Also Confused
US defense officials also expressed confusion. "We just spent the better part of two weeks reacting to the first announcement. We don't know what this means either," said one of two officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military matters. According to Rubio, Washington's allies understand that changes in the US troop presence in Europe will come as the Trump administration reevaluates its force needs. "I think there's a broad recognition that eventually there are going to be fewer US troops in Europe than there have historically been for a variety of reasons," he said.
US Withdrawal Followed German Criticism
The latest surprise came despite a US pledge to coordinate troop deployments, including one from NATO's top military officer, US Lieutenant General Alex Grynkewich, on Wednesday. Trump's initial announcement that he would withdraw troops came as he fumed over remarks by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who said that the US was being "humiliated" by the Iranian leadership and criticized what he called a lack of strategy in that war. Trump told reporters that the US would be cutting even more than 5,000 and also announced new tariffs on European cars. Germany is the continent's biggest auto producer. Rubio insisted that Trump's decision "is not a punitive thing. It's just something that's ongoing."
US Commitment to Keep Troops in Europe
The US has a commitment to keep at least 76,000 troops in Europe. About 80,000 US troops are stationed in Europe. The Pentagon is required to keep at least 76,000 troops and major equipment on the continent, unless NATO allies are consulted and there is a determination that such a withdrawal is in US interests. The withdrawal of 5,000 troops might drop numbers below that limit. But Trump's latest post suggests that troop numbers in Europe would not change. Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski welcomed the decision to send more forces to his country, saying it ensures that "the presence of American troops in Poland will be maintained more or less at previous levels." NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte also welcomed the move.
NATO's Perspective
On Thursday, before Trump took to Truth Social again, Rutte had underlined that it was important for Europe to take care of its own security. "We have a process in place. This is normal business," he told reporters. Meanwhile, at NATO headquarters in Brussels, US officials briefed the allies on the Pentagon's aims for its commitments to the NATO Force Model, which involves contingency planning for Europe's defense in the event of serious security concerns. It was widely expected that a further reduction of US forces would be coming. When asked whether any cuts were announced, Rutte said: "I'm afraid it's much more complicated than that." He said the procedure "is highly classified" and declined to give details. Rubio played down concerns about a shift in US force levels in Europe, saying: "Every country has to constantly reevaluate what their needs are, what their commitments are around the world, and how to properly structure that."
