U.S. troops will remain in Poland, and the United States is prepared to increase their numbers if requested by the Polish side. This was stated by U.S. President Donald Trump at a meeting with the new Polish President, Karol Nawrocki, at the White House. According to Reuters and AP, this was the first foreign trip for the Polish head of state since his inauguration in August.

During a joint appearance, Trump praised Poland's defense spending and noted that Poland is one of the few allies that spends significantly more than the required two percent of GDP on its military. "The U.S. presence on the eastern flank of NATO is strong and enduring. If Poland expresses interest, we are prepared to do even more," the U.S. president said. According to AP, Trump's remarks were in response to concerns that some U.S. military assets might be shifted to the Indo-Pacific region.

Reuters emphasized that the main topics of the meeting were security guarantees, Russian aggression against Ukraine, and energy cooperation. According to Reuters, Trump also boasted that he had previously supported Karol Nawrocki's candidacy, who subsequently won the election. A symbolic gesture of the meeting was the flyover of U.S. F-16 and F-35 aircraft over Washington.

President Trump did not specify the exact number of U.S. troops. However, data from the U.S. administration indicates that approximately ten thousand U.S. military personnel are stationed in Poland on a rotational basis. A key role is played by the V Corps headquarters of the U.S. Army in Poznan, known as Camp Kościuszko, which also houses the first permanent U.S. garrison in the country. The USAG Poland facility, which is being developed, is also part of this infrastructure. These details have been confirmed by both the U.S. Department of State and the Polish Ministry of Defense.

Poland is currently one of the largest "spending hawks" in the entire alliance. According to data from NATO and Reuters, Warsaw is allocating approximately 4.7 to 4.8 percent of its GDP to the military this year, which is the highest percentage among member states. The alliance also announced for the first time in its history that all 32 members have met the minimum two-percent target.

Nawrocki, who assumed office on August 6, 2025, is a historian and amateur boxer. His quick trip to Washington is intended to strengthen personal ties with President Trump and solidify the U.S. presence in Central Europe. This move is also seen as a signal to both Moscow and Kyiv. While Washington is strengthening its commitments on the eastern flank of NATO, some of the U.S. political debate questions the extent of long-term U.S. engagement in Europe.

The British newspaper The Guardian noted that the visit also highlighted political tensions in Warsaw. The president's active foreign policy contrasts with some of the government's positions, particularly regarding relations with Ukraine.

On the same day, Trump also indicated a willingness to deploy federal troops to combat crime in selected U.S. cities, specifically mentioning New Orleans. However, according to the American website Politico, the White House separated this issue from the discussions with the Polish president.

Reuters recalled that U.S. forces in Europe underwent a significant transformation after 2022. The establishment of a permanent garrison in Poland and the strengthening of logistical hubs from the Baltic states to the Black Sea are intended to deter Russia and speed up potential troop deployments. Washington is now making it clear that Poland will remain a key pillar of this arrangement—and that if Warsaw requests it, this support could be even greater.

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