Pentagon scraps deployment of 4,200 US troops to Poland, officials reveal
WASHINGTON, DC: Amid President Donald Trump’s tussle with European allies over the Iran conflict, the Pentagon has abruptly cancelled the deployment of a brigade of 4,200 US troops, which makes up one of the Army’s frontline tank formations, to Poland.
The Army’s 1st Cavalry Division, 2nd Armoured Brigade Combat Team, based at Fort Hood, Texas, had originally been scheduled to take over duties in Poland from another armoured unit of the same division deployed there last year.
But several US officials have now confirmed that the brigade is no longer en route to Poland this week.
Preparations for the deployment were already in full swing, with the brigade having sent a large portion of its equipment and advance personnel to Europe.
There are now about 7,400 US troops in Poland, and the Army’s V Corps has its forward headquarters in Poznan.
Pete Hegseth’s memo to move brigade team out of Europe
While there have been no official statements from the Pentagon, two anonymous officials revealed to Associated Press that the planned deployment to Poland was scrapped after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signed a memo ordering the Joint Chiefs of Staff to withdraw a brigade combat team from Europe.
Along with the Army combat team stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, the memo also canceled a planned deployment to Germany involving a battalion specialized in launching long-range rockets and missile systems, the officials confirmed.
Another official confirmed that the decision to scrap the deployment of the combat team in Poland was to comply with the President’s order to cut forces in Europe by about 5,000.
Earlier this month, Trump criticized German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who had said the US was being “humiliated” by Iran and blasted NATO countries for not participating in the Iran war.
At that time, while insisting on cutting force from Germany, he threatened to also pull troops out of Italy and Spain, countries that the president says have not supported the administration’s goals in the US war against Iran.
Pentagon officials have said that the administration’s long-term aim is for European allies to shoulder more of the responsibility for defending the continent and lessen the US military role there.
Polish officials left ‘blindsided’ by Pentagon’s decision
Republican Rep Don Bacon of Nebraska said he spoke with Polish officials Thursday and they were “blindsided.”
The Polish officials insisted that the cancellation of deployment was not targeted directly at their country but was a consequence of Trump’s decision to reduce the number of troops in Germany.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said he “received assurances” that the decision was of a logistical nature and said it does not directly impact deterrence capabilities and Poland’s security.
Pentagon spokesperson Joel Valdez said the troop withdrawal decision came after a “comprehensive, multilayered process,” insisting it was not a sudden or last-minute move.
During a congressional hearing on Friday, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and Army Chief of Staff Gen. Christopher LaNeve said talks about canceling the Poland deployment had been ongoing for the past two weeks, though the final decision was only made in recent days.
