The Pentagon has stopped the deployment of thousands of U.S. troops to Poland and Germany, canceling planned rotations to reduce the American military footprint in Europe. Two U.S. officials told The Associated Press that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signed a memo directing the Joint Chiefs of Staff to move a brigade combat team out of Europe. Military leaders selected the Army’s 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, halting the movement of 4,000 soldiers who were already en route or preparing to depart. A deployment to Germany of a battalion trained in long-range rockets and missiles was also canceled, the officials said.
The canceled rotations fulfill a presidential order issued in early May to reduce the number of troops in Europe by about 5,000, three U.S. officials said. The drawdown follows diplomatic friction between the Trump administration and NATO allies over the war in Iran. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz recently criticized what he called a lack of strategy in the conflict and said the U.S. was being “humiliated” by Iran’s leadership. Trump has repeatedly pressed NATO members for more support in the conflict.
The move reduces the U.S. military presence in Europe to pre-2022 levels, just before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, one official said. The sudden cancellations left some service members in the dark, a U.S. official based in Europe said, noting that a meeting was called with 20 minutes’ notice on Monday to discuss the Poland halt. Some troops had already traveled to Poland while others were told shortly before departure not to go to the airport, the official said. Most of the Army unit’s equipment had already arrived at European ports.
Polish officials on Friday insisted the canceled deployment was not targeted directly at Poland but was a consequence of the broader troop reduction in Germany. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said he “received assurances” that the decision was logistical and does not directly impact deterrence capabilities or Poland’s security.
The decision drew immediate bipartisan criticism on Capitol Hill. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., told the AP he spoke with Polish officials on Thursday and found they were “blindsided.” At a House Armed Services Committee hearing on Friday, Bacon called the decision “reprehensible” and said it was “an embarrassment to our country what we just did to Poland.” Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., who chairs the committee, said the military did not consult lawmakers before making the move. “So we don’t know what’s going on here,” Rogers said. “But I can just tell you we’re not happy with what’s being talked about.”
Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and Army Chief of Staff Gen. Christopher LaNeve testified at the same hearing that discussions about the halted Poland deployment occurred over two weeks, but the final decision was made in the past few days. LaNeve said he consulted with Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, the commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Europe, after receiving instructions for the force reduction. “I’ve worked with him in close consultation of what that force unit would be, and it made the most sense for that brigade to not do its deployment in theater,” LaNeve said.
Pentagon spokesman Joel Valdez said “the decision to withdraw troops follows a comprehensive, multilayered process” and argued it was “not an unexpected, last-minute decision.” A State Department official, Under Secretary Thomas G. DiNanno, addressed the reductions at a security conference in Tallinn, Estonia, stating the moves were “right there in black and white” but noted that “the U.S. isn’t going anywhere.” DiNanno said the U.S. would continue working with the Pentagon and partners to ensure the “right fit and right mix of what’s happening here on the ground.”
A NATO official said the canceled rotational deployment would not affect the alliance’s deterrence and defense plans. Canada and Germany have increased their presence on NATO’s eastern flank, which contributes to the alliance’s overall strength, the official said. Former U.S. Army Europe commanding general Ben Hodges said the move “reinforces the perception that the United States just does things without consultation with allies,” adding that it ultimately “damages cohesion inside the alliance.” Hodges warned the decision would harm the U.S. defense industry in the long run by reducing partner trust.
Typically, around 10,000 U.S. troops are stationed in Poland, mostly on a rotational basis, with only about 300 permanently present, according to the Congressional Research Service. Polish officials had hoped to avoid cuts, as Poland spends about 4.7% of its economy on defense, a figure Defense Secretary Hegseth has praised as a “model ally” benchmark. When Polish President Karol Nawrocki visited the White House in September, Trump said he did not intend to pull U.S. troops out of Poland and offered to send more if requested.