Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has said that the plan to withdraw American troops from Germany, is a “delicate matter” and said he does not want to “poach” them.
The US last week announced that it would withdraw around 5,000 of the 38,000 troops it has stationed in Germany.The operation is expected to take place over the next 6–12 months.
The move was made after US President Donald Trump reacted angrily to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s claim that Washington was being “humiliated” in its negotiations with Iran but the Pentagon has said that this has been considered for some time.
The announcement of the reduction in US forces in Germany rekindled speculation that the forces being removed could be redeployed to Poland, a country which has consistently been seeking to increase the existing contingent of around 10,000 US soldiers it currently hosts.
Tusk was asked during a briefing before departing from Armenia where he attended a European summit on May 4 whether, in light of the good relations between the US President Donald Trump and Polish opposition Conservatives (PiS) aligned President Karol Nawrocki, he expected the relocation of US troops withdrawn from Germany to Poland.
The Polish Prime Minister, who heads a centre-left government, replied that this is a “delicate matter” and that he did not want to be seen to be acting against the interests of a close European ally.
Although no official confirmation has been issued by any side, Prime Minister Donald Tusk has assured that he does not intend to take actions that could harm Germany.
“I don’t think we, as a state, should be poaching. I will not allow Poland to be used in any way to undermine solidarity or cooperation at the European level,” said Tusk.
Tusk assured that he was not opposed to strengthening the US presence but felt that this should be done in addition rather than instead of US soldiers being deployed in other parts of Europe.
“From the beginning of our government (December 2023-ed.) we have been very consistent in our efforts and will continue to strive for the maximum presence of American forces in Poland,” argued the Prime Minister, but added that “we need an American presence not only in Poland but also elsewhere in Europe because it serves Polish security in one way or another.”
Tusk’s remarks drew an immediate reaction from President Nawrocki’s camp and the Conservative (PiS) opposition.
“How can one place the interests and comfort of a neighboring state above one’s own security? This is astonishing. I once heard European diplomats use the term ‘jawohl government.’ Today, many are beginning to understand it better,” said Nawrocki’s chief foreign policy aide Marcin Przydacz.
The Prime Minister’s remarks were also addressed by PiS leader Jarosław Kaczyński. “Tusk has once again revealed his true face,” he wrote on X.
Kaczynski emphasized that increasing the U.S. military presence in Poland should be the top priority for Poland’s security.
“Increasing American forces, and thus establishing a permanent a US base in Poland, is something that cannot be overestimated. It would change our situation to one incomparably better, incomparably safer.”
The PiS leader concluded that Tusk was too closely bound by his bonds to Germany.
“Tusk means Berlin. Today, no reasonable person can deny this”, asserted Kaczynski.
The Polish PM was a close ally of former German Chancellor Angela Merkel who was his principal backer when he successfully sought the post of President of the European Council in 2014. Both Tusk’s Civic Coalition party and the German CDU are pillars of the European People’s Party (EPP) the largest grouping in the European Parliament.
Marcin Mastalerek, the ex-chief of staff to the last President Andrzej Duda saw Tusk’s remarks as a sign of the PM pitching again for a position in Brussels.
He told current affairs Youtube channel Kanal Zero that “Tusk, like many in the Brussels establishment are now attempting to use the issue of security as a battering ram in the struggle t federalize Europe through the backdoor and I have heard that he is already eyeing a future top job in the Eurocracy.”
