Poland is probably the US’ most reliable partner in Europe and the only country where a majority of people support the presence of US military bases, according to a poll.
Yet without any explanation, the US defense secretary on Thursday issued the order to ax a routine mission to Poland, a country Washington describes as a “model ally.”
Some 4,000 Texas-based troops were preparing to leave on a long-planned nine-month rotation to Poland that includes training with NATO allies when the order to halt came through.
Troops and equipment had already started to arrive and the the demobilization caused anxiety in European capitals and inside the Pentagon.
In Poland, a slim majority of just under 51% surveyed in which a majority favored U.S. military bases on their turf; in Romania 39.8 % agreed; a close 37.3% disapproved.
In a signs of fractions with Europe, President Donald Trump has decided to withdraw at least 5,000 U.S. soldiers from Germany in response to Berlin’s criticism over the war on Iran.
Poland, the Baltics and Romania are vying to get some U.S. troops could be redeployed to their territory.
In Poland, just 23 percent were opposed to bases, according to a survey for the annual Democracy Perception Index that was carried out in March and April across 98 countries, including 17 in the EU.
Poland has pushed for years to increase the number of U.S. troops on its soil — no matter what government is in power in Warsaw — as it sees their presence as the best guarantee against a Russian attack.
Besides Poland and Romania, only Israel and South Korea showed majority support for U.S. bases. In Korea 41 percent were in favor and 26.6 percent opposed, while in Israel 48.9 percent were in favor and 27.7 percent were against.
Pentagon, European officials taken aback by Hegseth decision to ax troops to Poland
