The United States has abruptly canceled the deployment of an armored brigade to Poland involving more than 4,000 troops.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the move could signal a broader reduction of the US military presence in Europe.
The canceled deployment involved the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team of the 1st Cavalry Division. Some units had already begun redeploying before the decision was made. A US Army spokesperson confirmed the move, Defense News reported.
A Pentagon official shared that the decision was announced during a Wednesday meeting between United States European Command and United States Army Europe and Africa headquarters.
The US Department of War did not explain how canceling the armored brigade’s deployment to Poland fits into its broader defense strategy for Europe.
Washington previously announced the withdrawal of 5,000 American troops from Germany. The move came after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticized the White House’s actions regarding the US war against Iran.
Later, US President Donald Trump told reporters that the troop reduction would be far larger.
“We are reducing much more than 5,000,” the US President said, also warning that American troops could be withdrawn from Italy and Spain.
The Pentagon said the long-term goal is to shift the main burden of conventional defense to European allies and reduce the US military role on the continent.
Meanwhile, Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz denied reports by American media about the sudden cancellation of the planned redeployment of US troops to Poland.
“This issue does not concern Poland – it is related to a previously announced change in the deployment of part of the US armed forces in Europe,” the defense chief emphasized.
According to United States European Command, the number of American troops in Europe has fluctuated between 75,000 and 105,000 since 2022. About 63,000 of them were stationed there on a permanent basis, while the rest rotated in and out.
