Russia Warns US Over Planned Troop Increase in Eastern Europe
At a briefing in Moscow, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said that reducing US military personnel in Europe would be a “rational, justified, and long-overdue” step toward correcting what she described as an imbalanced regional security structure shaped by NATO policy.
She argued that increasing troop numbers in Eastern Europe would only escalate tensions and bring Western forces closer to potential conflict zones, adding that such actions could force Russia to adopt what she called “military-technical measures.” She also accused NATO of contributing to what she described as a dangerous trajectory toward large-scale confrontation.
Current estimates place around 10,000 US service members in Poland, most deployed on a rotational basis, with roughly 80,000 American troops stationed across Europe more broadly. Poland borders Russia’s Kaliningrad region, a strategically sensitive enclave on the Baltic Sea.
The comments follow reports of a US plan to deploy additional troops to Poland. The proposal was linked to broader adjustments in American force posture in Europe, including delayed troop rotations and previous discussions about redeployments within NATO countries.
US political figures have described some of the adjustments as routine administrative changes, while maintaining that Washington remains committed to its NATO obligations. At the same time, debates continue within the alliance over defense spending levels and troop distribution.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly stated that Russia has no intention of attacking NATO members unless it is attacked first. However, Russian officials continue to argue that NATO’s eastward expansion and military buildup are contributing to heightened instability.
Separately, Russian intelligence chief Sergey Naryshkin claimed that NATO is effectively preparing for the possibility of a large-scale military confrontation in the eastern region of Europe.
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