21 hours ago
1
President Donald Trump connected Thursday (May 21, 2026) said the U.S. volition nonstop an further 5,000 troops to Poland, stirring disorder pursuing weeks of changing statements from Mr. Trump and his medication astir reducing — not expanding — the American subject footprint successful Europe.
The Trump medication has said it was reducing levels successful Europe by astir 5,000 troops, and U.S. officials confirmed astir 4,000 work members were nary longer deploying to Poland. Mr. Trump's societal media announcement raises much uncertainty for European allies that person been blindsided by the changes arsenic the medication has complained astir NATO members not shouldering capable of the load of their ain defence and failing to bash much to enactment the Iran war.
“Based connected the palmy Election of the present President of Poland, Karol Nawrocki, who I was arrogant to Endorse, and our narration with him, I americium pleased to denote that the United States volition beryllium sending an further 5,000 Troops to Poland," Mr. Trump said connected Truth Social.
Mr. Trump and the Pentagon person said successful caller weeks that they were drafting down astatine slightest 5,000 troops successful Germany aft Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the US was being “humiliated” by the Iranian enactment and criticized what helium called a deficiency of strategy successful the war.
Mr. Trump past told reporters astatine the opening of the period that the US would beryllium "cutting a batch further than 5,000.” As of past week, immoderate 4,000 troops from the Army's 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division were nary longer en way to Poland. The Associated Press reported that the cancelled deployment was portion of an effort to comply with Trump's bid to trim the fig of troops successful Europe. A deployment to Germany of unit trained to occurrence long-range missiles besides was halted.
Democratic and Republican lawmakers alike criticized the reductions arsenic sending the incorrect awesome some to allies and Russian President Vladimir Putin during the 4-year-old warfare successful Ukraine.
Republican Rep Don Bacon of Nebraska said during a legislature proceeding that helium spoke with Polish officials and they were “blindsided.” He called the determination “reprehensible” and said it was “an embarrassment to our state what we conscionable did to Poland.”
Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said connected Tuesday (May 19, 2026) that it was “a impermanent delay” of the deployment of US forces to Poland, which helium called a “model US ally.” He said it was a effect of the US reducing the fig of brigade combat teams assigned to Europe from 4 to 3 and indicated the Pentagon inactive needed to determine which troops to presumption where.
It was not wide whether that meant the brigade would resume its deployment to Poland, if further troops connected apical of that rotational deployment could beryllium added, oregon whether determination would inactive beryllium a drawdown of U.S. troops successful Europe but from a antithetic country. The Pentagon referred requests for remark to the White House, which did not instantly respond to messages seeking clarity.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Defense Undersecretary Elbridge Colby some spoke with with their Polish counterparts this week. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk had said Wednesday that helium was blessed to perceive “Washington's declaration that Poland volition beryllium treated arsenic it deserves.” As of Tuesday, U.S. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, commandant of some American and NATO forces successful Europe, told reporters successful Brussels that “it volition beryllium 5,000 troops coming retired of Europe.” Trump's announcement came arsenic Secretary of State Marco Rubio was connected his mode to Sweden to conscionable with his NATO counterparts, who person been questioning the Trump administration's policies connected reduced U.S. unit levels successful Europe.
“There seems to beryllium nary process to deliberating policies similar unit withdrawals and deployments astatine the top,” said Ian Kelly, a retired vocation diplomat who served arsenic US ambassador to Georgia during the Obama and archetypal Trump administrations and present teaches planetary relations astatine Northwestern University successful Illinois.
Mr. Kelly said Mr. Rubio whitethorn person a pugnacious clip successful explaining Trump's chaotic swings to Europeans who are craving certainty and consistency adjacent if they mightiness disagree.
“These are not good thought retired decisions,” Mr. Kelly said. “These are impulsive decisions based connected Mr. Trump's whims oregon what his advisors deliberation are Trump's whims.”
