Poland actively working to ensure presence of US forces on its territory
According to a statement from the Polish Ministry of Defense (MON), the Polish side is actively working to ensure the presence of American forces on its territory, both economically and logistically. The legal basis for these actions is the Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), signed in Warsaw on August 15, 2020.
One possible outcome of this cooperation could be the proposal made by General Christopher Todd Donahue, commander of the United States Army in Europe and Africa.
“General Christopher Todd Donahue has proposed the transfer of an Armoured Brigade Combat Team (ABCT) to Poland, along with its support assets, as part of the US Army’s Army Pre-positioned Stock (APS) program,” the Polish Ministry of Defense said in a statement to Euronews.
As highlighted by the Ministry, this initiative has triggered a series of meetings and working discussions, in line with the responsibilities outlined in the EDCA agreement.
“The proposal involves coordinating actions to identify suitable sites and develop a bilateral action plan that takes into account issues such as infrastructure requirements, schedules, resource allocation, legal framework, division of responsibilities, and operational design mechanisms,” the Ministry explained.
United States withdraws plan to deploy four thousand soldiers in Poland
Despite previous statements by President Donald Trump, Washington has decided to cancel the plan to deploy four thousand soldiers in Poland. This relocation decision was part of a broader Pentagon strategy involving the withdrawal of five thousand troops stationed in Germany.
This move comes amid rising tensions between Washington and Berlin, after Chancellor Frederic Merz criticized US-Israeli military operations in Iran as reckless. In response, President Trump issued a series of strong messages, urging Merz to focus on “putting his own country in order.”
In Warsaw, speculation had been circulating for weeks about the possibility of some troops being relocated from Germany to Poland. Following this revelation, Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz sought to temper expectations, emphasizing that the adjustment falls within the announced changes to the US presence in Europe and that the growing capabilities of the Polish army, along with the existing US forces in the country, strengthen the eastern flank of NATO.
President Karol Nawrocki declared, alongside NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte at the Bucharest 9 (B9) summit: “If President Trump decides to transfer troops from Germany, Poland is ready.” He reiterated this during a press conference on May 6, during joint military exercises in Lithuania.
Rutte avoided detailed questions on this topic at the Bucharest conference, simply highlighting the “very important and significant” US presence in Europe. Currently, between eight and ten thousand US soldiers are stationed in Poland.
Who is General Christopher Donahue?
General Christopher Todd Donahue is a prominent figure in the US military. Since 2024, he has been the commander of the US Army in Europe and Africa and the head of NATO’s Land Forces Command. Previously, as commander of the 82nd Airborne Division, he oversaw security at Kabul airport during the evacuation of US and allied forces from Afghanistan in 2021, being the last US soldier to leave the Afghan capital. This information was first reported by Reuters and confirmed by the US military.
In February 2022, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Donahue arrived in Poland leading a preparatory group from the 82nd Airborne Division, landing at Jasionka airport near Rzeszów. He also participated in training and advising Ukrainian officers.
Later in February, he visited Warsaw, where he met with US Ambassador Tom Rose and the Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces, General Wiesław Kukuła. During this visit, Kukuła awarded him the “Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces Medal” in recognition of his contribution to international security and cooperation with the Polish Armed Forces.
The discussions between the two generals focused on NATO’s eastern flank security, including the European Deterrence Line Initiative principles, as well as the role of deep strike capabilities and strengthening the US military presence in Poland.
