There was no explanation why the US defense secretary issued the order to ax a routine mission to Poland, a country Washington calls a “model ally.”
Some 4,000 Texas-based troops were preparing to leave on a long-planned nine month rotation to Poland that includes training with NATO allies when the order to halt came through.
Troops and equipment had already started to arrive in the country and the about-face sent waves of anxiety through European capitals and inside the Pentagon on Thursday about whether the development could encourage Russia and see it seeking a fresh target.
Pete Hegseth’s decision to cancel the deployment of 4,000 troops to Poland caught Pentagon staff and European allies by surprise.
It wasn’t clear exactly why Hegseth issued the order, according to three defense officials familiar with the matter quoted by Politico.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed frustration with European allies for their failure to help with the Iran war, although he called Poland a “model ally” for its high defense spending.
“We had no idea this was coming,” said one U.S. officials, adding that European and American officials have spent the last 24 hours on the phone trying to understand the decision and figure out if more surprises are coming, Politco reported.
This month, Hegseth announced the Pentagon would withdraw 5,000 troops from bases in Germany. That came after after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the U.S. was “humiliating” itself with the conflict in Iran.
The cancellation of a routine mission is especially unusual given that American troops stationed on the continent are a key deterrent to Russia. However, Trump has insisted that Europe will have to fend for itself and this latest order suggests the president intends to reduce American presence on the continent.
The Army’s role in Europe “is all about deterring the Russians, protecting America’s strategic interests and assuring allies,” said the Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, the former commander of the U.S. Army in Europe. “And now a very important asset that was coming to be part of that deterrence is gone.”
The broader strategy remains unclear, but sends a signal to European allies that they could pay a price for publicly disagreeing with the White House.
“The Poles certainly have never criticized President Trump, and they do all the things that good allies are supposed to do,” said Hodges. “And yet, this happens.”
Most Poles favor having a U.S. military base on their territory, polls show and spending is expected to reach 4.7% of national output, the highest among NATO allies.
