Warsaw denies reports of cancelled US troop deployment to Poland

May 14, 2026 | Defence

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This is a breaking news story and may be updated as further details emerge.

The Polish government has denied that a reported last-minute decision by the US to cancel the deployment of thousands of troops to Europe pertains to Poland.

Leading American media outlets have reported that the rotational forces were meant to be deployed to Poland. However, the Polish defence ministry says that any planned changes relate to other parts of Europe, in particular President Donald Trump’s recent decision to reduce troop numbers in Germany.

On Wednesday, defence-focused news outlets Stars and Stripes and Military Times reported that the US Department of Defense had “abruptly cancelled” the deployment of the 2nd Armoured Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.

Both outlets led their reports with the claim that the troops, almost 4,000 in total, had been due to deploy to Poland. However, Stars and Stripes added later in its article that the rotational forces had been destined for “Poland and other parts of NATO’s eastern flank”.

Last week, the brigade had begun preparations to depart for Europe, with division commander Major General Tom Feltey saying that the deployment “sends a clear and unmistakable signal” and that “our adversaries are paying attention”.

Some of the troops have already reached Poland while their equipment is already in transit, according to the deployment plan, reports Military Times.

Neither outlet included any official, on-the-record confirmation of the cancellation, citing only unnamed officials. A Pentagon spokesman, Javan Rasnake, said the Defence Department had “nothing to announce on this at this time”.

The Wall Street Journal subsequently also reported that “the Pentagon abruptly cancelled the deployment of an armoured brigade to Poland”.

 

However, in a post on X that included a link to the Military Times article, Poland’s defence minister, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, wrote that “this matter does not concern Poland” and “is linked to the previously announced change in the presence of part of the US armed forces in Europe”.

The minister in charge of the security services, Tomasz Siemoniak, shared Kosiniak-Kamysz’s post and added: “The revocation of the US army rotation does not apply to Poland.”

In a separate post, deputy defence minister Cezary Tomczyk wrote that the situation “relates to Germany, not Poland”.

Earlier this month, President Donald Trump announced that the US would withdraw around 5,000 troops from Germany. His decision came after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz had publicly declared that the US was being “humiliated” in its negotiations with Iran

Last year, the US also decided to reduce its troop numbers in Romania, while Trump has suggested that there could be further withdrawals in Germany, Italy and Spain. He has regularly criticised European NATO allies for failing to support US military action against Iran.

Poland, which hosts around 10,000 US troops, has expressed openness to hosting any forces that are withdrawn from Germany.

In its article, Stars and Stripes suggests that the easiest way for the US to meet its aim to reduce troop numbers in Germany by 5,000 would be to cut back rotational missions in Europe, such as that of the 2nd Armoured Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.

“While most [rotational] forces operate outside of Germany, many of the brigades that have rotated to the continent have carried out parts of their mission in Germany,” they wrote.

“If that were the case for the [2nd Armoured Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division], some of those numbers could theoretically count toward the 5,000 troop tally.”

On Thursday morning, speaking to reporters in parliament, Kosiniak-Kamysz again emphasised “the number of American troops in Poland is not decreasing” and in fact “we are working to increase both the size and operational capabilities of the American military presence in Poland”.

“The reorganisation of US troops in Europe may mean that other US brigades will be assigned to individual countries, but the changes do not concern a reduction of the contingent in Poland,” he added, quoted by news website Interia.


Notes from Poland is run by a small editorial team and published by an independent, non-profit foundation that is funded through donations from our readers. We cannot do what we do without your support.

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