Defense minister says US troops to stay in Poland after talk of withdrawal from Eastern Europe

​​​​​​​By Ilayda Cakirtekin

ISTANBUL (AA) – Poland’s defense minister said Tuesday that US troops would remain in the country following discussion of a possible withdrawal from Eastern Europe.

“US troops are staying in Poland! In accordance with the decision made at the NATO summit in Washington, the nature of the mission in Jasionka [Airport] is changing,” Wladyslw Kosiniak-Kamysz wrote on X.

He noted that the existing tasks of US troops at Jasionka would be taken over by other allies.

“The US administration has decided to transfer American equipment and personnel from Jasionka to other locations in Poland. This is being done on schedule and is part of a broader strategy aimed at optimizing US military operations,” said a Defense Ministry statement.

It said Polish cooperation with the US and NATO remains “unchanged.”

An NBC News report signaled a possible US withdrawal of up to half of the 20,000 troops that the Biden administration stationed in Eastern Europe in 2022.

The report said talks on reducing US troop levels in Romania and Poland are taking place as President Donald Trump seeks to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to a ceasefire with Ukraine.