After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Poland became Europe’s most pro-American country. It joined NATO in 1999 and hosts approximately 10,000 American troops, benefiting significantly from U.S. political and military support.
However, in recent months, Poland has entered a new era with growing concerns. President Trump’s threats to abandon the U.S. commitment to European security and his implementation of tariffs have raised anxieties. Furthermore, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin desires the removal of NATO troops from Poland and has threatened further aggression beyond the Ukraine conflict.
Poland has responded by taking a leadership role in the European Union and increasing its military spending. It has also implemented a program to train ordinary citizens in civil defense and warns other European countries to take more responsibility for their own security due to the decreasing willingness of the U.S. under Mr. Trump to bear the costs.
Security is a key issue uniting Poland before the upcoming presidential election. Poland’s location on NATO’s eastern edge makes it a crucial bulwark against Russian encroachment on Europe.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk of Poland stated that Europe would be safer if it had its own nuclear arsenal, implying that reliance on the American nuclear umbrella for protection is no longer viable.
Poland’s long history of warfare with Russia has been addressed primarily through its NATO membership and the U.S. military backing. However, countries like Poland, which shares long borders with Ukraine and Belarus, now face new challenges.
At the heart of Polish anxiety is President Trump, who has discussed reducing the presence of American troops in Europe. Poland’s concerns were heightened when the U.S. Army announced plans to reposition troops from a base in southeastern Poland.
European leaders understand that some U.S. troops may be rotated to other locations, but fear that a significant reduction could convey weakness to Moscow.
Poland views the U.S.-Europe relationship as mutually beneficial and is puzzled by the Trump administration’s stated disdain for Europe. In March 2023, the United States established a permanent military presence in Poland, with the forward headquarters for the U.S. Army’s V Corps located at Camp Kosciuszko.
Poland is already spending 4.5 percent of its GDP on defense and aims to increase that to 5 percent, in line with Mr. Trump’s demand for NATO countries. Poland is also seeking to form a coalition of European countries willing to spend more on defense and build a European deterrence less reliant on Washington.
Poland has identified military projects worth €40 billion ($46 billion) that could be funded through a new €150 billion E.U. loan program for defense. The country is advocating for increased training for civil defense and proposing legislation to streamline military investment and construction.
While Poland is facing a crucial presidential election, the country remains largely united on the issue of military spending and defense. The number of Poles who believe that the U.S. would come to their rescue is declining, indicating a pivotal moment for Poland’s own security.
In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Mr. Sikorski stated that Europe must invest in its own security to deter Moscow from launching similar attacks on other parts of Europe. Poland does not need to match the U.S. military capacity but aims to be better than Russia.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/07/world/europe/poland-nato-defense-spending.html
