The leader of Poland said that without the US, NATO is a pointless bloc that would only have the illusion of power. Polish President Andrzej Duda also said Warsaw would welcome American troops if Germany elected to expel them.

On Tuesday, Duda said, “NATO without the United States? … Everything is possible, but what’s the point? If there is a security alliance without the United States, then its guarantees without the world’s strongest power would simply be illusory.” 

The remarks are an admission that NATO’s power is underwritten by Washington, and without America’s military might, the bloc lacks geopolitical power. President Donald Trump has frequently complained that the Continent is largely dependent on Washington for its defense. 

Trump’s position on Ukraine and his questioning of the alliance has created concern in European capitals. Friedrich Merz, a German politician who is expected to be the next chancellor, said Europe needs independence from America. 

“My absolute priority will be to strengthen Europe as quickly as possible so that, step by step, we can really achieve independence from the USA,” he said. “I never thought I would have to say something like this on a television program. But after Donald Trump’s statements last week at the latest, it is clear that the Americans, at least this part of the Americans, this administration, are largely indifferent to the fate of Europe.”

Merz’s statement shows there is some division within the European community, as Duda said Warsaw would welcome American troops if Berlin pushed them out of Germany. “If Germany does not want American troops, does not want partnership with the United States, we will very willingly accept partnership with the United States,” Duda explained. “I am interested in transferring all the cooperation that Germany has with the United States to Poland. Very willingly.”

During his first presidency, Warsaw attempted to court Trump into deploying more American troops to Poland by offering to name a new base, Fort Trump.