Deputy Defense Minister Paweł Zalewski, speaking to broadcaster RMF24, declined to confirm or deny whether troops pulled from Germany would be redeployed to Poland.
"That is not the moment to comment — we must wait for the Pentagon's decision. However, our intention is to increase American capabilities in Poland and on the eastern flank generally," he said.
Pressed on whether Poland was specifically discussing the redeployment of those troops, Zalewski said talks with the Pentagon were focused on "increasing American capabilities in Poland — that is the only thing I can confirm."
He stressed that the decision on what happens to the withdrawing soldiers was "an American decision."
Asked whether the German drawdown could be a first step toward wider withdrawals from Spain or Italy, Zalewski said he hoped not, arguing that a US presence in Europe serves both European security interests — given the Russian threat — and American power-projection needs across three continents.
"I think it is a matter of shared European and American interests that US soldiers remain in Europe," he said.
He called the creation of a "NATO 3.0"—a new alliance framework in which Europe takes on significantly more responsibility for conventional defense against Russia—the most pressing priority, describing Poland as a leader in that process.
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth announced on Friday the withdrawal of around 5,000 troops from Germany.
President Donald Trump said on Saturday he intends to reduce that number by more than the 5,000 already announced.
Germany currently hosts between 35,000 and 37,000 US troops.
NATO spokeswoman Allison Hart said on Saturday the alliance was working with the United States to understand the details of the decision.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned the same day that the greatest threat to the transatlantic community was "not its external enemies, but the ongoing disintegration of our alliance," adding that everything necessary must be done "to reverse this catastrophic trend."
(jh/gs)
Source: PAP