"We have a US missile defense base in Poland and 6,000 to 10,000 American soldiers, NATO institutions on our soil, and we spend 4.8 percent of our GDP on defense," Sikorski told French radio France Inter on Monday, adding that Poland takes the Russian threat seriously.
"We are the largest participant in Europe's SAFE program," he noted, referring to the European Union's EUR 150 billion defense loan instrument.
The Reuters news agency reported on May 15, citing two anonymous US officials, that the Pentagon had canceled plans for a rotational deployment of 4,000 troops to Poland.
Broadcaster CNN subsequently reported that US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's decision was part of a broader effort to reduce US forces in Europe, following a May 1 announcement of the withdrawal of 5,000 troops from Germany.
Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said on Monday he hopes "all ambiguities" around the rotation will be resolved within days, adding that Poland had not been informed of any reduction at any stage.
"Over USD 50 billion in purchases we are making in the United States — that deserves respect from both sides," he said, recalling that US President Trump last year guaranteed continued strong American military presence in Poland.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Friday that the decisions were "logistical in nature and will not affect Poland's security."
Tusk reiterated on Monday that "there is no alternative" to Polish-American friendship and that Poland will always expect from its allies what it itself demonstrates—"respect and predictability."
On deterring Russia, Sikorski said preparation is essential. "If we are ready to deter, then maybe Putin will not commit another criminal and catastrophic mistake," he told France Inter.
"Putin cannot conquer Donbas in five years, so he certainly cannot win a war with NATO," he said, adding that Moscow must be deterred from acting on "hyper-optimistic beliefs," as it did in Ukraine.
(jh/gs)
Source: PAP