The Pentagon has officially announced that the number of U.S. brigade combat teams stationed in Europe will be reduced from four to three.
The announcement was published on the U.S. Department of War website.
According to the Pentagon, the move will bring the number of American ground forces in Europe back to the level seen in 2021.
“This decision follows a comprehensive review aimed at optimizing the deployment of U.S. forces across Europe,” the statement reads.
As a result, the deployment of additional U.S. forces to Poland, described as “a model ally of the United States”, will be temporarily delayed.
The Pentagon also stated that it will determine the final positioning of these and other American forces in Europe based on further analysis of U.S. strategic and operational needs, as well as allies’ ability to contribute forces for Europe’s defense.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell added that these measures are intended to support Donald Trump’s “America First” policy.
This approach includes encouraging and enabling U.S. allies in NATO to “take primary responsibility for the conventional defense of Europe.”
Reduction of U.S. Presence in Europe
Previously, the chairman of the U.S. House Armed Services Committee warned the Pentagon of “pain” over the sudden cancellation of the deployment of an armored brigade to Poland, which includes more than 4,000 troops.
The cancellation means that if the Pentagon moves forward with its recently announced plan to withdraw about 5,000 troops from Germany, the total number of U.S. forces in Europe would fall below the minimum required under the 2026 U.S. defense budget law.
The law bars the United States from reducing its troop presence in Europe below 76,000 personnel. It also requires Washington to consult with NATO allies and conduct a detailed security assessment before making any additional cuts.
The troop withdrawal from Germany is expected to take place over the next 6 to 12 months. The reduction will include a U.S. Army combat brigade and the Long-Range Fires Battalion missile unit, which had previously been scheduled for deployment to Europe.
