U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday welcomed Poland’s newly elected President, Karol Nawrocki, to the White House in a meeting that underscored Washington’s deepening military and strategic ties with Warsaw. The talks, held against the backdrop of Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, focused on bolstering NATO’s eastern flank and exploring tougher measures to counter Moscow’s aggression in the region.
During a joint press conference at the Rose Garden, President Trump praised Nawrocki’s leadership and reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to defending Poland and other allies threatened by Russian expansionism. Trump hinted at plans to station additional U.S. troops in Poland, calling it a “reliable and steadfast partner in freedom.” He emphasized that America would not hesitate to strengthen NATO’s presence in Eastern Europe to ensure deterrence.
For his part, President Nawrocki expressed gratitude for Washington’s support, stressing that Poland’s security is inseparably linked to that of Europe and the transatlantic alliance. He noted that Poland has been at the forefront of humanitarian and military assistance to Ukraine, sheltering millions of refugees and sending arms to Kyiv since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022.
The leaders also discussed energy security, with both sides signaling intent to reduce dependence on Russian oil and gas. Trump reaffirmed U.S. willingness to expand liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports to Poland, while Nawrocki said Warsaw was committed to diversifying its energy supplies to protect against future Russian coercion.
Beyond military and energy issues, the meeting highlighted growing U.S.-Polish cooperation in trade, technology, and defense manufacturing. Trump pointed to Poland’s rising role as a regional power and praised its recent increases in defense spending, which exceed NATO’s 2 percent GDP benchmark. He said these investments made Poland a “pillar of strength” within the alliance.
The White House visit marked Nawrocki’s first official foreign trip since assuming office earlier this year, underscoring the importance Warsaw attaches to its alliance with Washington. Analysts said the meeting sends a clear signal to Moscow that U.S.-Polish relations are entering a new phase of strategic depth.
As the war in Ukraine shows no sign of abating, both leaders stressed unity within NATO and the need for stronger collective defense. Trump closed the meeting with a pointed warning to Russia, declaring: “America and Poland stand shoulder to shoulder. Together, we will not allow aggression to rewrite the map of Europe.”
