Trump Orders 5,000 US Troops to Poland, Citing Bond With Karol Nawrocki
President Donald Trump said Thursday the United States will deploy an additional 5,000 troops to Poland, linking the move directly to the 2025 election of conservative President Karol Nawrocki, whom he endorsed.
The decision signals a potential shift in U.S. force posture in Europe at a time of heightened tensions and uncertainty over Washington's commitment to NATO. Trump said the strengthened U.S.-Poland relationship under Nawrocki drove the move, which could bolster security on NATO's eastern flank amid Russia's war in Ukraine.
Trump hosted Nawrocki at the White House in May last year and backed his candidacy ahead of the Polish election, which Nawrocki went on to win against a contender aligned with Prime Minister Donald Tusk's pro-European centrist camp. The two leaders met again in September, when Trump said the United States could expand its troop presence in Poland and pledged to bolster the country's defense.
The United States had been reviewing its military presence in Europe and was widely expected to reduce it, amid Trump's calls for NATO allies to take on a larger share of regional defense. The announcement came two days after Vice President JD Vance told reporters that a planned U.S. troop deployment to Poland had been delayed.
“Based on the successful Election of the now President of Poland, Karol Nawrocki, who I was proud to Endorse, and our relationship with him, I am pleased to announce that the United States will be sending an additional 5,000 Troops to Poland,” Trump said in the Truth Social post.
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This story was originally published May 21, 2026 at 5:08 PM.