Warsaw has been a “model” NATO ally, Pete Hegseth has said
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has said he would personally welcome having more American troops in Poland as the final shape of Ukraine’s borders is still uncertain. He called Warsaw a “model” NATO ally.
The Pentagon chief made the remarks on Friday during a joint press conference in the Polish capital with his counterpart Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz. Poland was Hegseth’s final stop on a European tour this week that included visits to US European Command headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany, and NATO headquarters in Brussels.
Hegseth reiterated his previous statements that Ukraine returning to its pre-2014 borders and NATO membership are both “unlikely,” and that American troops would not be stationed in Ukraine.
“So, what those borders ultimately look like remains to be seen,” Hegseth stated, defending US President Donald Trump’s efforts to launch negotiations with Moscow.
On Wednesday, Trump surprised European allies by holding a lengthy call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, their first publicly announced conversation since Trump’s return to power. They discussed possible steps toward ending the Ukraine conflict. The US leader later spoke with Vladimir Zelensky, who said that Kiev is ready to pursue peace talks with Russia.
Trump has backed his Pentagon chief’s statements that Kiev must accept the reality that returning to pre-2014 borders is not feasible, while NATO membership for Ukraine is off the table.
At the Warsaw press conference, Hegseth praised Poland, a strong supporter of Kiev, for its commitment to defense spending.
“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 US reportedly has over 8,000 troops stationed in Poland, most of which are deployed on a rotational basis. A permanent US Army presence was established in Poznan in 2023.
Hegseth also doubled down on Washington’s demand that European NATO allies take on more of the financial burden for their own security.
The secretary said that he and Trump see American troops in Europe as important, but warned that European allies should not assume they will stay forever.
“What happens five, 10, 15 years from now is part of a larger discussion that reflects the threat level…” Hegseth explained.
Russia has consistently expressed concerns over NATO’s eastward expansion since the 1990s, viewing it as a direct threat to its national security. Moscow views Ukraine’s potential NATO membership as a “red line” and a significant factor in the ongoing conflict.
