{"id":954,"date":"2026-05-22T15:37:45","date_gmt":"2026-05-22T15:37:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bostonrelocationinsider.com\/?p=954"},"modified":"2026-05-22T15:37:45","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T15:37:45","slug":"nato-allies-bewildered-by-trumps-about-face-on-us-troop-moves-in-europe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bostonrelocationinsider.com\/?p=954","title":{"rendered":"NATO allies bewildered by Trump\u2019s about-face on US troop moves in Europe"},"content":{"rendered":"
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HELSINGBORG, Sweden (AP) \u2014 NATO allies and defense officials expressed bewilderment Friday at President Trump\u2019s announcement that he would send 5,000 U.S. troops to Poland just weeks after ordering the same number of forces pulled out of Europe.<\/span><\/p>\n

Read more Pushed to the limit, Republicans show rare defiance to Trump\u2019s demands<\/a><\/p>\n

The apparent change of mind came after weeks of statements from Trump and his administration about reducing \u2014 not increasing \u2014 the U.S. military footprint in Europe. Trump\u2019s initial order set off a flurry of action among military commanders and left allies already doubtful about America\u2019s commitment to Europe\u2019s security to ponder what forces they might have to backfill on NATO\u2019s eastern flank with Russia and Ukraine.<\/span><\/p>\n

Earlier this month, the Trump administration said it was reducing levels in Europe by about 5,000 troops, and U.S. officials confirmed about 4,000 service members were no longer rotating into Poland from Germany. The dispatch to Germany of U.S. personnel trained to fire long-range missiles was also halted.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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But in a post on Truth Social on Thursday, Trump said he would now send \u201can additional 5,000 Troops to Poland,\u201d citing his strong ties with Polish President Karol Nawrocki, whom Trump endorsed in elections last year.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt is confusing indeed, and not always easy to navigate,\u201d Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard told reporters Friday at a meeting she was hosting of her NATO counterparts, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ministers from the Netherlands and Norway were sanguine about Trump\u2019s latest move, as was Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Bra\u017ee, who said allies knew the U.S. troop \u201cposture was being reconsidered, and now there is no change of posture. For now.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

U.S. defense officials also expressed confusion. \u201cWe just spent the better part of two weeks reacting to the first announcement. We don\u2019t know what this means either,\u201d said one of two officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military matters.<\/span><\/p>\n

But Rubio said Washington\u2019s allies understand that changes in the U.S. troop presence in Europe will come as the Trump administration reevaluates its force needs. \u201cI think there\u2019s a broad recognition that there are going to be eventually less U.S. troops in Europe than there has historically been for a variety of reasons,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n

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US withdrawal followed German criticism<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The latest surprise came despite a U.S. pledge to coordinate troop deployments, including one from NATO\u2019s top military officer, U.S. Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich, on Wednesday.<\/span><\/p>\n

Trump\u2019s initial announcement that he would withdraw troops came as he fumed over remarks by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who said that the U.S. was being \u201chumiliated\u201d by the Iranian leadership and criticized what he called a lack of strategy in that war.<\/span><\/p>\n

Read more US beats Germany 4-3 on Ryan Leonard\u2019s penalty shot at hockey worlds<\/a><\/p>\n

Trump told reporters that the U.S. would be cutting even more than 5,000 and also announced new tariffs on European cars. Germany is the continent\u2019s biggest auto producer.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rubio insisted that Trump\u2019s decision \u201cis not a punitive thing. It\u2019s just something that\u2019s ongoing.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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The US has a commitment to keep at least 76,000 troops in Europe<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

About 80,000 U.S. troops are stationed in Europe. The Pentagon is required to keep at least 76,000 troops and major equipment on the continent unless NATO allies are consulted and there is a determination that such a withdrawal is in U.S. interests.<\/span><\/p>\n

The withdrawal of 5,000 troops might drop numbers below that limit.<\/span><\/p>\n

But Trump\u2019s latest post suggests that troop numbers in Europe would not change. Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski welcomed the decision to send more forces to his country, saying it ensures that \u201cthe presence of American troops in Poland will be maintained more or less at previous levels.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte also welcomed the move. On Thursday, before Trump took to Truth Social again, Rutte had underlined that it was important for Europe to take care of its own security. \u201cWe have a process in place. This is normal business,\u201d he told reporters.<\/span><\/p>\n

At NATO headquarters in Brussels, meanwhile, U.S. officials briefed the allies on the Pentagon\u2019s aims for its commitments to the NATO Force Model, which involves contingency planning for Europe\u2019s defense in the event of serious security concerns. It was widely expected that a further reduction of U.S. forces would be coming.<\/span><\/p>\n

Asked whether any cuts were announced, Rutte said: \u201cI\u2019m afraid it\u2019s much more complicated than that.\u201d He said the procedure \u201cis highly classified\u201d and declined to give details.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rubio played down concerns about a shift in U.S. force levels in Europe, saying: \u201cEvery country has to constantly reevaluate what their needs are, what their commitments are around the world, and how to properly structure that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Cook reported from Brussels. Associated Press writer Emma Burrows in London contributed.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

Read more Game 50: Twins at Red Sox lineups and notes<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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