“I will encourage the US troops leaving German territory to remain in Europe. Poland is ready to accept American soldiers,” declared Polish President Karol Nawrocki on Wednesday.
Shortly before the weekend, the Pentagon announced a decision to withdraw approximately 5,000 American soldiers from Germany. The operation is to be carried out within the next 6-12 months. When asked before the weekend about the reasons for this decision, Donald Trump did not answer directly but added that the number of US troops in Germany would be higher than the figure mentioned.
During Wednesday’s conference, the presidents of Lithuania and Poland were asked about the withdrawal of troops from Germany and the possibility of redeploying the personnel to NATO’s eastern flank countries.
“So that the US does not turn away from Europe”
Gitanas Nausėda stressed that “Europe’s security is indivisible, therefore if these units are withdrawn from Germany, they should, in one way or another, remain in Europe.” “Which country that will be is a question to which we should find an answer,” he said.
“For my part, I declare that we are ready to accept them and we are expanding the infrastructure here so that we can accommodate as many such military units as possible […] Currently, there are more than 1,000 American soldiers stationed here. I hope that in the future there will be more of these soldiers and that these commitments will be honored. It is important that attention remains here […] and we should do everything to ensure that the United States does not turn away from Europe,”
the Lithuanian president declared directly.
“Poland is ready”
President Karol Nawrocki spoke in a similar tone.
“There are a few issues that represent a truly supra-partisan and supra-political compromise within the Republic of Poland itself, but I think also within communities and political circles across Europe, especially in Central and Eastern Europe. The presence of American troops is certainly one such issue,” he said.
“Regardless of political views, everyone is aware that the presence of American troops, whether in Poland or in other countries of Central and Eastern Europe, raises the level of security. Therefore, it is in the Republic of Poland’s interest. As President of Poland, I look after this interest, and in the interest of the security of the Baltic states, Central Europe, and Eastern Europe to have the greatest possible presence of American soldiers,”
he emphasized.
He added that if Donald Trump decides to reduce the US military presence in Germany, “we in Poland are ready to accept American soldiers.” “We have the infrastructure ready for this, and it is in the interest of both Poland and Lithuania, as well as the Baltic states, that the largest possible number of American soldiers be stationed here,” he stated.
“I once again confirm that Poland is ready to accept American soldiers,” he declared.
Nawrocki pointed out that the current center of gravity of European security lies on NATO’s eastern flank. “Therefore, if this is a tactical, strategic shift of soldiers from Germany toward Poland or the Baltic states, we will only feel more secure. I believe this is a task for the President of Poland, out of concern for Poland, but also for the whole of Europe, to convince President Donald Trump that if he makes such a decision regarding the components in Germany, those soldiers should stay in Europe,”
he said.
Tusk “will not allow” this
It is worth noting that Prime Minister Donald Tusk has recently expressed a completely different view on this matter. When asked whether Poland should count on the relocation of US troops from Germany to Poland, he replied that it is a “delicate matter.” “I think we should not, as a state, poach (…). I will not allow Poland to be used in any way to break European solidarity or cooperation,” he declared.
Read more: US troops to move from Germany to Poland? President Nawrocki declares Poland’s readiness