The confused U.S. messaging dismayed Poland and European allies, but was a boon to Russian President Vladimir Putin, retired U.S. Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges said at the POLITICO Speakeasy, adding that Hegseth “should probably resign.”
While Trump has backtracked on how many U.S. soldiers will be in Poland, the broad direction of the Pentagon scaling back its forces on the continent will continue, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said at a meeting of fellow alliance foreign ministers in Sweden.
“It’s well understood in the alliance that the United States troop presence in Europe is going to be adjusted, that that work was already ongoing, and it’s been done in coordination with our allies,” Rubio said. “I’m not saying they’re going to be thrilled about it, but they certainly are aware of it.”
The result will be a “collective product” and based on an “ongoing process involving other countries,” he said.
A NATO diplomat said that the U.S. line “is much clearer now,” but added that the timeline for the new U.S. force posture is complicated “because it is linked with the credibility of deterrence and defense.”
Przydacz said Trump had signaled during Nawrocki’s first White House visit last year that American troops would stay in Poland and that their numbers could rise, and cited the “positive chemistry” between the leaders as a factor in the latest decision.