President Donald Trump said the United States will keep a robust military presence in Poland during a meeting on Wednesday with Karol Nawrocki, the new president of the American ally in Europe.
Trump had taken the unusual step of endorsing Karol Nawrocki in the presidential election earlier this year and as the leaders sat in the White House, Trump said the US-Polish relationship has always been strong but “now it’s better than ever.”
When asked by a reporter whether the US planned to continue placing troops in Poland, Trump said it would and that “we’ll put more there if they want.”
“We’ll be staying in Poland. We’re very much aligned with Poland,” Trump said.
The visit to Washington is Nawrocki’s first overseas trip since taking office last month.
The former amateur boxer and historian, who was backed by the conservative Law and Justice party, was hoping to deepen his relationship with Trump at a fraught moment for Warsaw.
Nawrocki thanked Trump for his support and in a nod to the bonds between their countries, gave a particular hello to the millions of Polish Americans in the US.
“Those relations for me, for Poland, for Poles, are very important,” Nawrocki said.
He added that those bonds are based on shared values of independence and democracy.
Trump said he was proud to have endorsed Nawrocki and lauded him for winning his election.
“It was a pretty tough race, pretty nasty race, and he beat them all. And he beat them all very easily, and now he’s become even more popular as they got to know him and know him better,” Trump said.
Trump is increasingly frustrated by his inability to get Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to sit down for direct talks aimed at ending the war.
Last month, Trump met with Putin in Alaska and then with Zelenskyy and several European leaders at the White House.
The Republican president emerged from those engagements confident that he would be able to quickly arrange direct talks between Putin and Zelenskyy and perhaps three-way talks in which he would participate.
On Wednesday, Putin said he would be prepared to meet Zelenskyy, provided the meeting took place in Moscow. Kyiv swiftly rejected that proposal.
“Maybe they have to fight a little longer,” Trump said in an interview with the conservative Daily Caller published over the weekend. “You know, just keep fighting — stupidly, keep fighting.”
European security concerns
There is also heightened anxiety in Poland and across Europe about Trump’s long-term commitment to a strong US military presence on the continent, seen as an essential deterrent to Russia.
Some key advisers in the Trump administration favour shifting US troops and military from Europe to the Indo-Pacific to counter the United States’ most significant strategic and economic competitor.
Currently, there are about 8,200 American troops stationed in Poland, but the force level regularly fluctuates, according to the Pentagon.
When Nawrocki arrived at the White House, Trump gave him a hearty slap on the shoulder and stood with him as they watched US military jets soaring over the South Lawn.
A group of F-16s flew in a missing man formation as a tribute to a Polish Air Force F-16 pilot, Major Maciej “Slab” Krakowian, who died in a crash in Poland on 28 August.
“Thank you for this gesture,” Nawrocki later told Trump.
Trump made clear before Poland’s election this spring he wanted Nawrocki to win, dangling the prospect of closer military ties if the Poles elected Nawrocki. Trump even hosted him at the White House before the vote.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem also travelled to Poland shortly before the May election to tell Poles if they elected Nawrocki and other conservatives they would have a strong ally in Trump who would “ensure that you will be able to fight off enemies that do not share your values.”
Ultimately, Polish voters went with Nawrocki in a tight election over liberal Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski.
Most of the power in Poland’s parliamentary system rests with an elected parliament and a government chosen by the parliament. The president can veto legislation and represents the country abroad.
Nawrocki has tense relations with the government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk, an ally of Trzaskowski.
Nawrocki has echoed some of Trump’s language on Ukraine.
He promises to continue Poland’s support for Ukraine but has been critical of Zelenskyy, accusing him of taking advantage of allies.
Nawrocki has accused Ukrainian refugees of taking advantage of Polish generosity and vowed to prioritise Poles for social services such as health care and schooling.
