NATO chief welcomes Trump decision to send troops to Poland

Mark Rutte welcomed a US announcement to send an additional 5,000 troops to Poland. NATO military commanders will work through the operational details with the United States during preparations for an alliance foreign ministers meeting in Sweden. The announcement created confusion because it followed a Pentagon decision to suspend deployment of a brigade combat team of about 4,000 to 4,700 troops to Poland, described as a temporary delay. The timing was also unexpected given earlier tensions involving Germany’s criticism of US strategy in Iran, which drew Trump’s ire. It remained unclear whether the suspended brigade would resume, whether extra troops would be added, or whether a separate drawdown from Europe would occur. Trump also said the US would reduce troops in Germany in early May and expects Europe to take primary responsibility for continental security.

"NATO head Mark Rutte said he "welcomes" US President Donald Trump's announcement about deploying 5,000 troops to Poland. NATO's military commanders will work through details, Rutte said, during remarks to reporters ahead of the alliance's foreign ministers' meeting in Sweden. US to send 5,000 troops to Poland: What to know Trump said Thursday he plans to send 5,000 troops to Poland, a move meant to reassure an ally."

""Based on the successful Election of the now President of Poland, Karol Nawrocki," Trump wrote in a social media post, "I am pleased to announce that the United States will be sending an additional 5,000 Troops to Poland." But the decision led to confusion because it came two days after the Pentagon announced that it was suspending the deployment of a brigade combat team (4,000 to 4,700 troops) to Poland. Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said then that that meant there was going to be a "temporary delay" of the scheduled deployment of US forces to Poland."

"The Pentagon's move was also surprising because it was Germany, not Poland, that criticized the US strategy in Iran, drawing Trump's ire. It was not clear whether Trump's announcement meant the brigade would resume its deployment to Poland, if additional troops on top of that rotational deployment could be added, or whether there would still be a drawdown of US troops in Europe but from a different country. Trump said the US would reduce troops in Germany in early May."

"The Trump administration has said it would hope Europe would take on the primary responsibility of security on the continent from the US."

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