Trump says US to send 5,000 more troops to Poland after Pentagon's delay
Washington, May 22
US President Donald Trump said his administration will send an additional 5,000 troops to Poland.
"Based on the successful Election of the now President of Poland, Karol Nawrocki, who I was proud to Endorse, and our relationship with him, I am pleased to announce that the United States will be sending an additional 5,000 Troops to Poland," Trump wrote on Truth Social, without providing further details.
The remarks came one week after the Pentagon abruptly delayed a planned deployment of more than 4,000 US-based troops to Poland, where Nawrocki was elected president last year, Xinhua news agency reported.
On Tuesday, the Pentagon announced it had reduced the number of US Brigade Combat Teams assigned to Europe from four to three, returning troop levels to those seen in 2021.
The decision resulted in a temporary delay of the deployment of US forces to Poland, the Department of Defence said in a statement at the time, describing Poland as "a model US ally."
Currently, there are around 80,000 US troops based in Europe, among them roughly 10,000 in Poland, according to US media reports.
The Pentagon announced earlier that roughly 5,000 US troops would be withdrawn from Germany over the next six to 12 months.
Earlier, as the Pentagon had scrapped plans to temporarily deploy US-based troops to Poland, the head of the US European Command "received the instructions on the force reduction," said Christopher LaNeve, acting US Army chief of staff, at a congressional hearing last week.
"I've worked with him in close consultation on what that force unit would be, and it ... made the most sense for that brigade to not do its deployment in theater," LaNeve said, referring to the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team.
Some elements of the unit had already been sent overseas and its equipment was in transit, the general said.
The order to cancel the deployment came from US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's office, according to the general. No formal announcement has been made.
— IANS
Reader Comments
The shifting of US troops between Germany and Poland shows how NATO dynamics work - it's all about who's in the White House's good books. For India, we should note that geopolitical alliances are transactional. Our strategic autonomy matters more than ever.
Watching from India, this whole troop deployment saga looks chaotic. One day Pentagon delays, next day Trump promises more. The US-Europe relationship seems to be getting more complicated by the day. We should strengthen our ties with both Russia and Europe to balance things out.
As an American living in India, I find it odd how Trump announces troop increases without consulting Pentagon. This is not how serious security decisions should be made. Poland is a strong ally but this ad-hoc approach disturbs military planning. India should take note - better to have consistent policies.
The way US troops are being moved around like chess pieces - 10,000 in Poland, 80,000 in Europe, but then Pentagon reduces brigade combat teams... It's confusing. For India, this shows that even the world's superpower struggles with military logistics. We're doing well with our own defence modernisation! ✨
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