HELSINGBORG, Sweden (AP) 鈥� NATO allies and defense officials expressed bewilderment Friday at U.S. President Donald Trump鈥檚 announcement that he would send to Poland just weeks after ordering the same number of forces pulled out of Europe.
The apparent change of mind came after weeks of statements from Trump and his administration about in Europe. Trump’s initial order set off a flurry of action among military commanders and left allies already doubtful about America’s commitment to Europe’s security to ponder what forces they might have to backfill on NATO’s eastern flank with Russia and Ukraine.
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 . The dispatch to Germany of U.S. personnel trained to fire long-range missiles was also halted.
But in a post on Truth Social on Thursday, Trump said he would now send “an additional 5,000 Troops to Poland,鈥� citing his strong ties with Polish President Karol Nawrocki, whom Trump endorsed in elections last year.
鈥淚t is confusing indeed, and not always easy to navigate,鈥� 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.
Ministers from the Netherlands and Norway were sanguine about Trump鈥檚 latest move, as was Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Bra啪e, who said allies knew the U.S. troop 鈥減osture was being reconsidered, and now there is no change of posture. For now.鈥�
U.S. defense officials also expressed confusion. 鈥淲e just spent the better part of two weeks reacting to the first announcement. We don鈥檛 know what this means either,鈥� said one of two officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military matters.
But Rubio said Washington鈥檚 allies understand that changes in the U.S. troop presence in Europe will come as the Trump administration reevaluates its force needs. 鈥淚 think there鈥檚 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,鈥� he said.
US withdrawal followed German criticism
The latest surprise came despite a U.S. pledge to coordinate troop deployments, including one from NATO鈥檚 top military officer, U.S. Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich, on Wednesday.
Trump’s initial announcement that he would withdraw troops came as he fumed over remarks by German , who said that the U.S. was being 鈥渉umiliated鈥� by the Iranian leadership and criticized what he called a .
Trump told reporters that the U.S. would be cutting even more than 5,000 and also announced new . Germany is the continent鈥檚 biggest auto producer.
Rubio insisted that Trump鈥檚 decision 鈥渋s not a punitive thing. It鈥檚 just something that鈥檚 ongoing.鈥�
The US has a commitment to keep at least 76,000 troops in Europe
About 80,000 U.S. troops are stationed in Europe. The Pentagon is 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.
The withdrawal of 5,000 troops might drop numbers below that limit.
But Trump’s 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 鈥渢he presence of American troops in Poland will be maintained more or less at previous levels.鈥�
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. 鈥淲e have a process in place. This is normal business,鈥� he told reporters.
At NATO headquarters in Brussels, meanwhile, U.S. officials briefed the allies on the Pentagon’s aims for its commitments to the NATO Force Model, which involves contingency planning for Europe鈥檚 defense in the event of serious security concerns. It was widely expected that a further reduction of U.S. forces would be coming.
Asked whether any cuts were announced, Rutte said: 鈥淚鈥檓 afraid it鈥檚 much more complicated than that.鈥� He said the procedure 鈥渋s highly classified鈥� and declined to give details.
Rubio played down concerns about a shift in U.S. force levels in Europe, saying: “Every country has to constantly reevaluate what their needs are, what their commitments are around the world, and how to properly structure that.鈥�
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Cook reported from Brussels. Associated Press writer Emma Burrows in London contributed.
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