American troops in Europe are not ‘forever,’ US defense chief warns

After years of pressure, Poland has succeeded in getting 8,000 U.S. troops permanently stationed in the country.

That got Hegseth to again call Poland a “model ally.”

He said the “level of partnership is unmatched in Europe, the common bond is unlike others in Europe.” He also praised Poland for investing in local infrastructure for U.S. troops.

“The invitation we receive here, if anything, would make me want to have more troops to Poland — that’s not a policy statement, that’s just how I feel,” Hegseth told reporters.

The two defense chiefs pledged to enhance cooperation.

Poland and the U.S. will set up joint ventures to boost “capacity to produce ammunition, armament,” said Kosiniak-Kamysz. Poland “wants to be a service  hub for the American equipment used on NATO’s eastern border,” he added.

In a testament to the special bond between Warsaw and Washington, Kosiniak-Kamysz announced that the Polish armed forces would be exempt from Trump’s recent freeze of the U.S. State Department’s Foreign Military Financing program, which enables eligible partner nations to purchase American gear.