Marcin Przydacz, head of the Polish presidential office's International Policy Bureau, told Polish media that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described himself as "absolutely" in favor of the change during a roughly hourlong call.
"There is absolutely a green light from the White House, and it was also stated by Marco Rubio himself", Przydacz said.
He added that the final shape of the U.S. presence would depend on a broader strategy currently being developed by the Pentagon.
According to Przydacz, Rubio attributed the White House's political decision to several factors beyond overall U.S. strategy in Europe, including strong Polish-American relations that he said are based largely on the personal rapport between Presidents Karol Nawrocki and Donald Trump. Rubio also called Poland a "model ally" that spends an adequate share of its GDP on defense and invests in military equipment and technology, Przydacz said.
Przydacz said Rubio reaffirmed Trump's earlier pledge to send an additional 5,000 troops to Poland, but cautioned that the figure likely represents a replacement for — not an addition to — the roughly 4,000-strong armored brigade whose rotations have been suspended.
"The declaration on the additional 5,000 was upheld here", Przydacz said. "But that certainly does not mean that the suspended brigade of 4,000 troops, which was not rotating, will now arrive in Poland".
He said the American presence should now be viewed as "an entirely new concept," adding that troop numbers matter less than capabilities, and that the shift from a rotational to a permanent footing itself carries significance as a signal "to both the East and the West".
Przydacz urged the Polish government to press Washington to translate the declarations into concrete decisions from the Pentagon and Poland's defense ministry. He said Bartosz Grodecki, head of Poland's National Security Bureau, was due to meet Thursday at the Pentagon with U.S. Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby, who oversees the development of a new American posture in Europe.
Nawrocki separately spoke Wednesday with Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz to "consolidate the Polish position" ahead of the upcoming NATO summit, Przydacz said.
Asked about a monthslong review of the U.S. military presence in Europe announced by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Przydacz said the full shape of the new posture would likely not emerge until around autumn. For now, he said, the priority is ensuring "the decision from the White House is properly implemented".
Before the Rubio-Przydacz call, Poland's ambassador to the United States, Bogdan Klich, handed Rubio's adviser Defense Ministry documents outlining plans for a permanent U.S. contingent in Poland.
The call also touched on broader security issues, including Russia, Ukraine, and the situation in Central Europe and the Middle East, Przydacz said. He said Venezuela and Cuba came up separately, with the U.S. side interested in Poland's potential role amid a "changing internal situation" in Venezuela. Przydacz said he emphasized Poland's experience transitioning from communism.
(jh)
Source: PAP