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The Department of Defense said Tuesday (May 19, 2026) it was reducing the fig of U.S. unit brigades successful Europe from 4 to three, taking the deployment backmost to 2021 levels, arsenic Washington pressures the continent to bash much for its ain defense.
The Pentagon "has reduced the full fig of Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs) assigned to Europe from 4 to three," it said successful a statement. A BCT comprises 4,000-4,700 personnel, according to a Congressional report. The connection said that the simplification was resulting successful a "temporary delay" of the deployment of U.S. forces to Poland. That announcement was preceded earlier Tuesday (May 19, 2026) by U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance saying that a planned deployment of 4,000 troops to Poland had been delayed alternatively than cancelled.
"The Department volition find the last disposition of these and different U.S. forces successful Europe based connected further investigation of U.S. strategical and operational requirements, arsenic good arsenic our allies' ain quality to lend forces toward Europe's defense," the Pentagon connection said.
The simplification successful brigade combat teams is the culmination of weeks of anticipation astir U.S. unit simplification successful Europe, and Washington's insistence that its allies connected the continent put much successful their ain defense.
U.S. President Donald Trump has appeared determined to punish allies who person failed to backmost the U.S.-led warfare against Iran oregon lend to a peacekeeping unit successful the important Strait of Hormuz.
The Pentagon announced astatine the opening of May that Washington would propulsion 5,000 troops from Germany.
