Advisor to the Polish General Staff on Cooperation with the USA: We Have a Contingency Plan

Why It Matters

The comments reveal Poland’s dual‑track strategy—preparing for reduced U.S. involvement while counting on American commitment—shaping NATO’s eastern‑flank posture and influencing European security debates.

Key Takeaways

• Poland maintains contingency plans for reduced US support.
• Błazeusz doubts European political will for independent defense.
• US key capabilities will remain stationed in Europe.
• Poland stresses active role in EU and NATO.
• Statement aims to reassure domestic and allied audiences.

Pulse Analysis

Poland’s geographic position on NATO’s eastern flank makes it a pivotal bulwark against Russian aggression. Lt. Gen. Piotr Błazeusz’s recent interview highlights how Warsaw balances confidence in the transatlantic alliance with pragmatic preparation for scenarios where U.S. forces might be scaled back. By publicly affirming both a primary defence strategy and backup "branch" plans, Poland signals to allies and domestic audiences that it is ready to absorb shocks while still expecting American military support to remain a cornerstone of regional security.

The discussion of contingency planning comes at a time when the United States is recalibrating its forward presence in Europe, shifting some units to rotational or rapid‑response formats. Błazeusz’s reassurance that “key capabilities will still remain in Europe” reflects a nuanced view: while troop numbers may dip, critical assets such as air‑defence systems, intelligence platforms, and logistical hubs are likely to stay put. This approach allows NATO to maintain deterrence credibility without overextending U.S. resources, and it encourages partner nations to develop complementary national and regional plans.

For policymakers across the continent, the advisor’s remarks underscore a broader strategic dilemma: how to reconcile political hesitancy about direct confrontation with the need for a credible defence posture. Poland’s stance—advocating for a robust EU‑NATO role while preparing for reduced American involvement—could prompt other Eastern European states to adopt similar dual‑track doctrines. The message also serves as a diplomatic cue to Washington, reminding it that European allies expect continued engagement, even as the alliance adapts to evolving threat environments and budgetary constraints.

Advisor to the Polish General Staff on cooperation with the USA: We have a contingency plan

By Michał Górski · 10 February 2026, 11:56

“You must always have a main plan as well as contingency plans (so‑called branch plans). It is natural to consider various possible scenarios, including the one mentioned, but I firmly believe that the Americans will not abandon us,” said Lt. Gen. Piotr Błazeusz, Strategic Advisor to the Chief of the General Staff.

Polish Armed Forces – NATO’s eastern flank. Latvia Polish Military Contingent. Photo: Operational Command (@DowOperSZ) / X, 4 February.

On 4 February, Lt. Gen. Piotr Błazeusz, Strategic Advisor to the Chief of the General Staff of Poland, gave an interview to TVP World in which he spoke, among other things, about European–American cooperation within NATO.

When asked whether Europe is currently capable of defending itself on its own without potential assistance from the United States, Gen. Błazeusz replied:

“It is worth asking: does Europe today want to defend itself on its own? Do political decision‑makers have faith in victory?”

He added that, in his view, some European leaders “have doubts about victory.” At the same time, the officer expressed confidence that U.S. forces would come to Europe’s aid if it were attacked by the Russian Federation:

“I strongly believe that if Russia makes this big, foolish mistake and attacks Europe, the United States will come to our aid (…)”

See also

• Trump doubts NATO’s loyalty to the United States. Is he right?

In the context of cooperation with the Americans, Gen. Błazeusz was also asked whether the Polish Armed Forces have plans in the event of a lack of assistance from Washington.

“You must always have a main plan as well as contingency plans (so‑called branch plans). It is natural to consider various possible scenarios, including the one mentioned, but I firmly believe that the Americans will not abandon us,” he replied, confirming that despite a partial reduction of the U.S. Army’s presence on the Old Continent, “their key capabilities will still remain in Europe.”

“You always need to have a contingency plan, but I have no doubts that the Americans will be with us if bad things happen here,” he added, emphasizing that Poland still has a strong need to remain active both in the European Union and in the North Atlantic Alliance.