Poland, Ukraine's western neighbor, will be the last European country to face a withdrawal of US troops. This was stated by Deputy Defense Minister Pawel Zalewski in an interview with Reuters, News.bg reports.
The statement comes against the backdrop of discussions in Washington about a possible reduction of the US military presence in Europe - an issue that has been raised since the beginning of Donald Trump's term, when the US began to insist that its allies take on a greater share of responsibility for common defense.
„All the conversations we have with the Americans show that Poland is the last place from which they would like to withdraw their troops,“ he stressed Zalewski.
He argues this with the key strategic role of Poland on NATO's eastern flank, especially after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. According to him, it is precisely the proximity to the front line that makes Poland a natural location for logistical and military support.
In addition, Warsaw seeks to become the center of the American military presence in Europe – not only as a deployed base, but also as a logistics, service and potentially production hub for the needs of the American defense industry.
“We are discussing options such as the modernization of F-16 aircraft or the creation of service centers for American military equipment – including 'Abrams' tanks“, added Zalewski.
While Germany played such a role during the Cold War, today logic dictates Allied military presence to be concentrated in countries closer to the conflict zone.
Poland has already become one of the largest defense investors in NATO. In 2025, the country plans to allocate 4.7% of GDP to defense – with the intention of reaching 5% in 2026, which would be the highest percentage among all allies.
Poland is also Europe's largest buyer of American weapons, according to the Ministry of Defense. Its military arsenal includes “Abrams“ tanks, HIMARS missile systems, “Patriot“ anti-aircraft missile systems, F-16 and F-35 fighter jets, as well as “Apache“ helicopters.