Face of Nation : WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday he will send 1,000 more troops to Poland to counter Russia, while criticizing Germany for making itself a “hostage” to Moscow by over-relying on Russian energy supplies.
Trump said the US troops would be moved to Poland from fellow NATO-member Germany and that Poland was building facilities to accommodate them.Details of the troop boost were thin but they fell far short of Poland’s long-running hope for a permanent major US military base.
The number was half the amount Trump had flagged less than three hours earlier while meeting in the Oval Office with Duda, where he said “they’re talking about 2,000 troops.”
Trump poured cold water on his Polish allies’ hopes for a full-blown permanent US facility – something that would irritate the Kremlin and almost certainly prompt a Russian response. I don’t talk about permanence or not permanence,” Trump said.
Duda was diplomatic when asked at the press conference how many US troops he’d like to see, saying “it’s always up to the United States.” “He’d like to see 250,000 troops,” Trump quipped.
Trump said Poland was ordering more than 30 F-35 combat aircraft. In a highly unusual presidential airshow, one of the advanced warplanes roared over the White House during Duda’s visit, prompting the visiting Polish leader to wave in delight.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed the US announcement, tweeting that the extra troops show “the strong commitment of the US to European security & the strength of the transatlantic bond.”
