The United States cancels the deployment of 4,000 soldiers in Poland, after the announcement of a first withdrawal of 5,000 soldiers from Germany

Hard blow for Warsaw. The United States has canceled the deployment of 4,000 troops to Poland, a senior American officer confirmed Friday, as Washington reorganizes its forces in Europe after announcing the withdrawal of thousands of troops from Germany.

Asked about this cancellation during a parliamentary hearing, General Christopher LaNeve, acting chief of staff of the Army, assured that the head of European Command “had received instructions concerning the reduction of troops”.

“I worked in close consultation with him (…) and it seemed logical to us that this brigade would ultimately not be deployed,” said LaNeve, referring to the 2nd armored combat brigade.

Dispute between Berlin and Washington

The Pentagon announced earlier this month that Washington would withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany. This operation was to be completed in the “next six to twelve months”, according to US Department of Defense spokesperson Sean Parnell.

Donald Trump subsequently claimed that the troop reduction would go “well beyond 5,000 troops”, without providing details.

These announcements come against a backdrop of heated disagreement between the American president and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz over the war waged by the United States and Israel against Iran.

Trump criticizes his European allies for their lack of support for this offensive launched at the end of February, particularly on the issue of the Strait of Hormuz. He also says he wants to see Europe take more responsibility for its own defense, rather than depending on American military protection.

“Source of embarrassment”

Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz suggested Friday that the cancellation of his country’s planned deployment could have something to do with the withdrawal of troops from Germany.

“If another brigade than planned comes to Poland, perhaps from Germany, and 5,000 soldiers leave Germany for Poland… there is no change in security guarantees,” Kosiniak-Kamysz told reporters.

“We know that the United States is working to adjust its posture in Europe,” a NATO official also assured on Friday.

In Washington, Republican Congressman Don Bacon called the cancellation “a source of embarrassment for our country”, assuring that Poland “did not know about it”. Democratic MP Marilyn Strickland regretted that this decision “suggests that we are not a reliable ally”.