Luttwak: Poland Is Not the Model NATO Ally

Andrew A. Michta’s op-ed “Station U.S. Troops in Poland, Not Germany” (Sept. 6) ignores that U.S. troops are conveniently stationed in Germany to be deployable anywhere in Europe and beyond. They aren’t a garrison to defend Germany, Europe’s most populous country, which must provide whatever troops it deems necessary for its own defense.

To move the 25,000 or so troops from Germany to Poland, adding to the 10,000 already most unwisely stationed in that country, wouldn’t suffice to defend Poland even against today’s poorly led Russian army. Instead, it would transform the 25,000 from deployable forces to a deterrence “trip wire”; an attack against them would be supposed to trigger an all-out war against Russia.

But to station U.S. troops in Poland would also have an immediate, nonhypothetical and negative effect on Poland’s defense. It would legitimate and perpetuate the irresponsible Polish policy that wastes money on fancy helicopters and target-only frigates in the Baltic Sea, while not doing what responsible countries near Russia must do. That is, to conscript their youth for short and intensive training for subsequent service in equipped reserve units that can be mobilized quickly to defend their country—with the support of allied air power, if necessary, but with no need of U.S. or other foreign troops.

Finland does that, so that its 5.5 million inhabitants can field an army of 250,000 at short notice. Sweden restored conscription immediately after Russia’s seizure of Crimea.

With around 40 million people, Poland had only 42,000 trained soldiers when the Ukraine war started. While in Warsaw in November 2021, I asked why. Answer: We can’t afford more. I asked why they were buying expensive helicopters. Answer: Because Polish troops on peacekeeping missions shouldn’t be ashamed of their old Soviet helicopters. Why the half-billion-dollar frigate? Answer: Because Poland is a naval power (?). Even the F-35s, bought most expensively, are mostly for show; very few missiles were ordered.

Instead of sending more U.S. troops to Poland, a deadline should be set to withdraw them all unless Poland conscripts its youth to defend their own country, as the Finns and Swedes do. NATO membership wasn’t meant to be an excuse for irresponsibility.

Edward N. Luttwak

Chevy Chase, Md.

Mr. Luttwak, a consultant to governments and militaries, is author of “Strategy: The Logic of War and Peace.”