Nato chief welcomes US sending 5,000 troops to Poland

May 22, 2026

President Trump announced the deployment of 5,000 additional U.S. troops to Poland, reversing a prior Pentagon decision to cancel sending 4,000 troops to the country. Trump attributed the decision to his relationship with Polish President Karol Nawrocki, whom he previously supported during elections. The announcement comes amid broader White House signals about reducing overall U.S. military presence in Europe as part of an "America First" agenda, including a recent withdrawal of 5,000 troops from Germany following tensions with German leadership.

Who is affected

Poland (receiving 5,000 additional U.S. troops)
Polish President Karol Nawrocki and Prime Minister Donald Tusk
U.S. military personnel being deployed
Germany (losing 5,000 troops; currently hosts over 36,000 U.S. troops)
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul
NATO member countries and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Rubio
Republican lawmakers in the U.S. who criticized troop withdrawals

What action is being taken

The U.S. is sending 5,000 additional troops to Poland
The U.S. is withdrawing 5,000 troops from Germany
NATO foreign ministers are meeting in Helsingborg, Sweden
Germany is conducting ongoing discussions with the U.S. about deploying long-range missile systems
Negotiations on Iran are ongoing

Why it matters

This deployment represents a significant shift in U.S. military positioning in Europe that affects NATO's overall security architecture. The move signals potential realignment of American priorities, with increased focus on Poland while reducing presence in traditional strongholds like Germany, raising questions about long-term U.S. commitment to European defense. The decision carries geopolitical implications for deterring Russian aggression in Eastern Europe while potentially straining relationships with western European allies, particularly Germany, at a time when European security faces heightened uncertainty.

What's next

Secretary of State Rubio is expected to call for increased burden-sharing from NATO partners at Friday's talks in Helsingborg
Discussions about U.S. troop numbers available for NATO attack scenarios will occur at the summit
Germany and the U.S. will continue ongoing discussions about long-range missile system deployment
Negotiations on Iran will continue, with the U.S. awaiting further developments

Read full article from source: BBC