Pentagon Leader Expresses Desire for Increased US Military Presence in Poland
Poland has been described as a "model" NATO ally by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. For the complete article, visit RT.com.
TroibNews 
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has expressed his support for increasing the presence of American troops in Poland, particularly given the ongoing uncertainty regarding Ukraine's borders. He referred to Warsaw as a “model” NATO ally.
Hegseth made these comments during a press conference in Warsaw on Friday alongside Polish counterpart Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz. This visit marked the conclusion of his European tour, which also included stops at US European Command headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany, and NATO headquarters in Brussels.
Reiterating previous assertions, Hegseth emphasized that it is “unlikely” for Ukraine to return to its pre-2014 borders or achieve NATO membership, and clarified that US troops would not be deployed in Ukraine.
“So, what those borders ultimately look like remains to be seen,” he stated while defending President Donald Trump’s initiative to engage in negotiations with Moscow.
Earlier in the week, Trump surprised European allies with a lengthy phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, their first publicly announced discussion since Trump's return to office, during which they talked about possible steps to end the Ukraine conflict. Trump subsequently spoke with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, who indicated that Kiev was ready to engage in peace talks with Russia.
Trump agreed with Hegseth's position that Ukraine must recognize the impracticality of restoring pre-2014 borders, and that NATO membership for Ukraine is off the table.
During the Warsaw press conference, Hegseth commended Poland for its strong support of Ukraine and its commitment to defense spending.
“The invitation we receive here, if anything, would make me want to have more troops in Poland – that’s not a policy statement, that’s just how I feel,” he shared with reporters.
Currently, more than 8,000 American troops are stationed in Poland, primarily on a rotational basis. A permanent US Army presence in Poznan was established in 2023.
Hegseth also reiterated Washington's call for European NATO allies to shoulder a greater share of the financial responsibilities for their own security. He noted that both he and Trump view American troops in Europe as vital, but cautioned that European allies should not take their presence for granted.
“What happens five, 10, 15 years from now is part of a larger discussion that reflects the threat level…” Hegseth explained.
Russia has long expressed concerns about NATO's eastward expansion since the 1990s, regarding it as a direct threat to its national security. The prospect of Ukraine joining NATO is viewed by Moscow as a “red line” and a significant factor influencing the ongoing conflict.
Sanya Singh contributed to this report for TROIB News
Hegseth made these comments during a press conference in Warsaw on Friday alongside Polish counterpart Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz. This visit marked the conclusion of his European tour, which also included stops at US European Command headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany, and NATO headquarters in Brussels.
Reiterating previous assertions, Hegseth emphasized that it is “unlikely” for Ukraine to return to its pre-2014 borders or achieve NATO membership, and clarified that US troops would not be deployed in Ukraine.
“So, what those borders ultimately look like remains to be seen,” he stated while defending President Donald Trump’s initiative to engage in negotiations with Moscow.
Earlier in the week, Trump surprised European allies with a lengthy phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, their first publicly announced discussion since Trump's return to office, during which they talked about possible steps to end the Ukraine conflict. Trump subsequently spoke with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, who indicated that Kiev was ready to engage in peace talks with Russia.
Trump agreed with Hegseth's position that Ukraine must recognize the impracticality of restoring pre-2014 borders, and that NATO membership for Ukraine is off the table.
During the Warsaw press conference, Hegseth commended Poland for its strong support of Ukraine and its commitment to defense spending.
“The invitation we receive here, if anything, would make me want to have more troops in Poland – that’s not a policy statement, that’s just how I feel,” he shared with reporters.
Currently, more than 8,000 American troops are stationed in Poland, primarily on a rotational basis. A permanent US Army presence in Poznan was established in 2023.
Hegseth also reiterated Washington's call for European NATO allies to shoulder a greater share of the financial responsibilities for their own security. He noted that both he and Trump view American troops in Europe as vital, but cautioned that European allies should not take their presence for granted.
“What happens five, 10, 15 years from now is part of a larger discussion that reflects the threat level…” Hegseth explained.
Russia has long expressed concerns about NATO's eastward expansion since the 1990s, regarding it as a direct threat to its national security. The prospect of Ukraine joining NATO is viewed by Moscow as a “red line” and a significant factor influencing the ongoing conflict.
Sanya Singh contributed to this report for TROIB News
