'I fought Russian aggression on Europe's new frontline - it opened my eyes to Nato and Trump's actions'

The Trump administration overturned almost 80 years of American policy last month by going over the heads of Volodymyr Zelensky and his Western allies to enter direct talks with Russia about ending the war in Ukraine.

He also demanded concessions from Ukraine while seemingly demanding none from Russia, such as proposing that Ukraine allocate $500billion worth of its mineral revenues to the US as repayment for previous military aid, without offering any security guarantees in return.

Although the details are vague, it's understood that America had softened the terms of agreement before Zelensky's meeting with Trump on Friday descended into chaos.

Whatever the outcome, it has become clear that Uncle Sam is turning away from Europe. This has raised profound questions about the future of Nato and its ability to offer a credible threat to Russian aggression without its strongest member.

Nowhere is this felt more acutely than along Poland's land border with Kaliningrad, Russia's heavily militarised Russian exclave located approximately 260 km (160 miles) from Warsaw.

When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, this region became Nato's new defensive frontline. However, Poland was already well on its way to beefing up its military after Putin annexed Crimea.

Poland's military personnel numbered approximately 99,000 in 2014, ranking ninth among NATO member countries.

This number has since swelled to around 216,000, positioning Poland as having the third-largest military in NATO, following the United States and Turkey.

This year, Poland aims to spend 4.7 per cent of GDP on its military, far surpassing the alliance's standard benchmark of two per cent.

Kervin Aucoin, a 15-year Army Veteran and the Founder & CEO of Aucoin Analytics, experienced this war footing first-hand when he was posted along Poland's border in April 2018.

Recognising the growing threat of Russian aggression, Poland requested that the U.S. Air Force conduct overt operations along its border with Kaliningrad.

This was a "clear signal" to Moscow that Poland was not only aware of its vulnerabilities but also prepared to take positive action to remedy them, Aucoin tells GB News.

"It was all about reconnaissance, flexing muscle, and building relationships, and it really opened my eyes to how important it is for America to partner with NATO to firm up its position in Eastern Europe," he explained.

Although the Army vet cannot go into specific details as the mission remains classified, he tells us that it was all about "visibility".

"We were flying an MQ-9 Reaper and working as a blended team of intelligence professionals out in the open," he revealed.

He continued: "The Polish people knew we were there and while maybe not what exactly the mission was they knew the target was Russia. This wasn't just about gathering information— it was about making a statement. We were there because Poland asked us to be, to show that we are serious about NATO and aren't afraid of Russian aggression.

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"The whole mission was just as much about appearances as it was about completing the mission. Naturally, conducting business in this high-pressure arena had its own set of problems. We had on occasion noticed possible Russian operatives trying to gather intelligence about our mission.

"This meant we had to be incredibly careful with the way we dealt with everyone, not wanting to inadvertently fuel tensions or provoke an international incident."

Aucoin was struck by how "aggressively proactive" the Polish government was about protecting itself.

"They were seriously worried about Putin's belligerence and believed their country was in the crosshairs. Their request for American help, including the offer to build a US military base called 'Fort Trump', was all part of their desire for a strong bilateral relationship with America," he said.

This was not just about military planning — it was about reassurance, the Army vet said, adding: "Our presence served to quell fears and reinforce the notion that Nato and the US were steadfast partners against Russian aggression."

Aucoin reflects fondly on his mission, telling GB News that it "really put things into perspective how much Nato is needed in Eastern Europe and how important it is to remain united against Russian aggression".

As a result, he laments America's inward turn at a time when alliances need to be strengthened.

Aucoin rejects the claim that Trump is a "Russian asset" but believes he's bought into misinformation.

"This can lead to some uncomfortable moments with our allies, but it doesn't mean he's actively working against Nato or Western interests," he told GB News.

What should Europe do?

The challenge for Europe is to navigate Trump's foreign policy "contradictions" while defending Ukraine from Russia, says Aucoin.

He continued: "Trump completely thrives on negativity and confrontation, and viewing him as an adversary could actually drive the US further away from its allies."

Instead, the ex-intelligence analyst recommends European leaders engage him "positively" by listening to him, asking for clarification, and searching for things that they can agree on.

"The United States and Europe both want to counter Russian aggression, so having a robust alliance is actually central to making that a reality."