The acting head of the US Army said commanders were ordered to reduce troop levels in Europe
The Pentagon has scrapped a plan to send 4,000 troops to Poland due to growing tensions between President Donald Trump and US allies over policy against Iran.
The Associated Press reported on Friday that some troops from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division — including Abrams tanks and Bradley fighting vehicles — had already arrived in Poland or were en route when the Pentagon notified them that the deployment had been canceled.
Gen. Christopher LaNeve, the acting chief of staff, told Congress that the head of the US European Union Command “received instructions on reducing power.” He added that “It made more sense for the squad not to take it to the theater.”
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk seemed to ignore the move, saying he had done it “received assurances … that these decisions are of a logistical nature.” Minister of Defense Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said the attraction is linked to a “It previously announced the change in front of some of the US Armed Forces in Europe.”
More than 10,000 US military personnel are stationed in Poland on a rotating basis.
Although Trump has repeatedly accused NATO members of failing to spend enough on defense, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently described Poland as a “model partner” having spent about 4.7% of its GDP on defense last year – more than any other NATO member.
In early May, the Pentagon announced the withdrawal of 5,000 troops from the approximately 38,000 US military personnel stationed in Germany. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has been among the European leaders who criticize the policies of the United States and Israel regarding Iran. Trump also urged the chancellor to consider “to mend his broken country.”
Trump has also suggested he may withdraw troops from Spain and Italy after the two countries reportedly refused to use bases and airports for Iran-related attacks.
