Poland’s President: US Commits to Maintaining Troop Presence in Eastern Europe
Polish President Andrzej Duda stated that the United States has reassured Warsaw that troop levels in Eastern Europe will not be reduced.
On Tuesday, Polish President Andrzej Duda mentioned that U.S. officials have informed him that there are no plans to decrease the military presence in Eastern Europe.
These comments followed a meeting between Duda and President Donald Trump’s Ukraine envoy, Keith Kellogg, in Warsaw.
Concerns about the U.S. commitment to European security have grown recently, especially after U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that NATO allies should not assume an indefinite American presence on the continent.
After meeting with both Hegseth and Kellogg, Duda sought to reassure the Polish people that Washington remains dedicated to security in the region.
Highlighting the significance of the U.S.–Polish alliance in countering regional threats, Duda reiterated that both Hegseth and Kellogg emphasized America’s ongoing commitment to security in Poland.
“There are no concerns about the United States reducing its presence in our country or withdrawing from its responsibility—in collaboration with us—for security in this part of Europe,” Duda stated.
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Expressing hope for American diplomatic efforts in Ukraine, Duda expressed confidence in Trump’s ability to resolve the conflict.
Duda emphasized the importance of achieving a “just peace,” one that is stable and enduring, to ensure long-term stability free from the threat of Russian aggression.
Following the visit to Poland, Kellogg was scheduled to travel to Kyiv for discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The results of these talks will be discussed at a meeting of Poland’s National Security Council on Feb. 24, underscoring Warsaw’s commitment to supporting U.S. endeavors in the region, specifically concerning peace in Ukraine.
Poland, a longstanding ally of the United States in Europe, is NATO’s top defense spender relative to GDP, with military expenses expected to reach 4.7 percent of GDP this year—approaching Trump’s call for 5 percent of GDP to be allocated to defense.
During the visit to Warsaw, Hegseth praised Poland as a “model ally” and lauded its outstanding partnership with Washington. Although he did not confirm any troop increases, he hinted at the stabilization of U.S. deployments in Poland.
At the same time, Hegseth urged other European allies to take greater responsibility for their own security as the U.S. reexamines its global military position.
“The American troop levels on the continent are important,” Hegseth stated. “The future, five, 10, 15 years from now, is part of a broader discussion that reflects threat levels, America’s posture, our global needs, but most importantly, the ability of European countries to step up.”
“This is why our message to European allies is urgent—now is the time to invest because we can’t assume that America’s presence will be permanent.”
Duda’s discussions with Hegseth and Kellogg occurred as Washington reviews its global military presence. While final decisions on force deployments are pending, U.S. officials have signaled a shift in focus toward the Asia-Pacific region to counter the increasing influence of Communist China.
