The “temporary” deployment of American forces looks to be indefinite
GREYWOLF Trooper of the 1st Cavalry Division on exercises in Poland, October 26, 2022. © US Army/PFC David Dumas
US troops currently stationed in Poland on a temporary basis will be there for “a long time,” President Joe Biden said on Wednesday. The comment was made in passing following an event at the White House, and Biden did not elaborate. Warsaw has asked Washington to permanently garrison troops in Poland, but that would technically violate a NATO treaty with Russia.
Polish Radio correspondent Marek Walkuski called out a question about US troops as Biden was leaving the East Room.
“They’ll be there for a long time,” the US president replied, walking away.
It is unknown how many US troops are currently in Poland, NATO’s main logistical hub for supporting the government in the neighboring Ukraine. In May, the US ambassador in Warsaw revealed that over 12,600 American military personnel were in the country, the largest number in history.
I asked @POTUS how long he is going to keep US troops in Poland and other NATO counties. “Look, they will be there for a long time”- said Biden as he left the East Room. @PR24_plpic.twitter.com/sJyEQa9VgL
— Marek Wałkuski (@Marekwalkuski) November 2, 2022
Warsaw called for additional NATO forces to be deployed in Poland and the Baltic States in September, as a response to the partial mobilization of reservists in Russia.
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