U.S. President Donald Trump surprised NATO allies by pledging to send an additional 5,000 troops to Poland. The announcement came hours before Secretary of State Marco Rubio was to meet alliance ministers in Sweden.
Trump cited his relationship with Poland's conservative nationalist president, Karol Nawrocki, in a Truth Social post. He had endorsed Nawrocki's successful election bid.
The move is a turnaround after weeks of Trump criticizing NATO members for not doing enough to help the U.S.-Israeli campaign in Iran. He had previously questioned whether Washington should honor its mutual defense pact.
Rubio said Trump was disappointed in allies like Spain that denied the U.S. use of bases for the war. He questioned why such countries remain in NATO.
European ministers in Helsingborg plan to emphasize readiness to help with freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran has restricted traffic during the war.
