Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has warned that Warsaw should not “poach” troops from allies.
U.S. President Donald Trump said he “might” move U.S. troops from Germany to Poland, as the Pentagon prepares to pull around 5,000 American soldiers out of Germany over the next year.
“Poland would like that,” Trump told journalists on Friday when asked about the prospect. “We have a great relationship with Poland. I have a great relationship with the president. … I like him a lot, so that’s possible.”
The Pentagon earlier this month confirmed the U.S. will withdraw 5,000 troops from military bases in Germany, following through on a threat Trump made after sparring with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz over the Iran war. Trump has since gone on to warn that the Pentagon would be “cutting a lot further than 5,000.”
Polish President Karol Nawrocki said Wednesday that Poland is ready to host American troops withdrawn from Germany and that he would personally lobby Trump to send the soldiers east. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk had warned on Monday that Warsaw should not “poach” troops from allies.
Poland’s defense minister and head of the conservative Polish People’s Party, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, on Saturday welcomed Trump’s remarks.
“The Polish-American alliance is the foundation of our security,” he posted on social media network X. “Poland is ready to accept more American soldiers in order to strengthen NATO’s eastern flank and provide even better protection for Europe.”