U.S. will not lower troop numbers in eastern Europe: Poland's president

Polish President Andrzej Duda announced Tuesday that the United States had assured Poland that there would be no reduction in American troop presence in Eastern Europe.

Duda said U.S. officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg, confirmed the U.S. commitment to maintaining its current military presence in Eastern Europe.

Currently, approximately 10,000 U.S. troops are stationed in Poland, which is an increase following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The U.S. established its first permanent military base in Poland in 2023.

The assurance aligns with Poland's ongoing efforts to bolster its defense capabilities, and underscores the strategic partnership between the two countries. It comes against the backdrop of heightened security concerns in Eastern Europe, regarding potential threats from Russia.