HELSINGBORG: NATO allies and defence officials expressed bewilderment on Friday at US President Donald Trump's decision to send 5,000 American troops to Poland just weeks after he had ordered 5,000 troops to be pulled out of Europe.
"It is confusing indeed, and not always easy to navigate," Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard told reporters at a meeting she was hosting of her NATO counterparts, including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
US defence officials were also confused. “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.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, “I am pleased to announce that the United States will be sending an additional 5,000 Troops to Poland.”
He said this was due to his strong ties with Polish President Karol Nawrocki, whom Trump endorsed in elections last year.
The apparent change of mind came after weeks of conflicting statements from Trump and his administration about reducing — not increasing — the American military footprint in Europe.
NATO allies have been blindsided, despite a US pledge to coordinate troop deployments.
"We're going to stay well-synchronized with our allies moving forward," NATO's top military officer, US Lt Gen Alex Grynkewich, promised on Wednesday.
Earlier this month, the Trump administration has said it was reducing levels in Europe by about 5,000 troops, and US officials confirmed about 4,000 service members were no longer deploying to Poland.
That announcement came as Trump 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 the war.
Trump then told reporters that the US would be "cutting a lot further than 5,000". He also announced new tariffs on European cars. Germany is the continent's biggest auto producer.
About 80,000 US troops are stationed in Europe. The Pentagon is required to keep at least 76,000 troops and major equipment stationed in Europe 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.
Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski welcomed Trump's decision, which ensures that "the presence of American troops in Poland will be maintained more or less at previous levels".