Polish President Karol Nawrocki declared on Wednesday that Poland stands ready to absorb American forces relocated from Germany, following President Donald Trump’s decision to pull 5,000 U.S. troops out of the European ally. Speaking during NATO exercises in Lithuania, Nawrocki emphasized that Poland already possesses the necessary infrastructure to accommodate any such redeployment.
“If for any reason — discussed and publicly known — President Donald Trump decides to reduce the American military component in Germany, we in Poland are ready to accept American troops; we have the infrastructure in place to do so,” Nawrocki said in a speech at the “Brave Griffin 26–II” wargames near Kamień, Lithuania. He added, “Regardless of political views, everyone is aware that the presence of American troops — whether in Poland or other Central and Eastern European countries — increases security.”
Trump last week ordered the Pentagon to move 5,000 troops out of Germany over the next year, with hints of further reductions. The move came after a public clash with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who criticized the U.S. war in Iran. Merz said Iran was “humiliating” the U.S. over its control of the Strait of Hormuz, to which Trump retorted that Merz should focus on “fixing his broken Country” instead of commenting on the conflict.
The U.S. has steadily expanded its military footprint in Poland since Trump’s first term. Poland currently hosts about 10,000 American troops and saw the establishment of its first permanent Army base in March 2023. Germany, by contrast, houses roughly 36,000 U.S. service members, including the strategic Ramstein Air Base, headquarters for U.S. Air Forces in Europe.
Nawrocki’s offer may gain traction, as Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Marcin Bosacki confirmed on Wednesday that talks between Warsaw and Washington on increasing the U.S. presence are already underway “at both the military and diplomatic levels.”
However, the Polish president’s stance puts him at odds with Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who warned Monday that Warsaw should not “poach” U.S. troops from Germany, as doing so would “undermine European solidarity.” Lithuania has also signaled readiness to accept American soldiers.
This development comes amid broader tensions within NATO, as Trump’s Iran war strategy has strained alliances and sparked internal debates over burden-sharing. The planned troop reduction from Germany could reshape the alliance’s defensive posture on Europe’s eastern flank.
Nawrocki’s push for a larger U.S. presence reflects a long-standing Polish desire to bolster deterrence against Russia, a priority that has gained urgency since Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The ongoing joint exercises with the U.S., Lithuania, and Portugal underscore that focus.
As the Pentagon weighs its next steps, the offer from Warsaw highlights the shifting dynamics of American force posture in Europe, with Poland emerging as a willing host even as Germany faces a diminished role.
