President Trump announced the deployment of 5,000 additional U.S. troops to Poland, contradicting previous statements about reducing military presence in Europe. This decision has created confusion among European allies regarding U.S. military strategy.
Key points
Trump announced sending 5,000 more troops to Poland
Contradicts previous plans to reduce troop levels in Europe
Confusion among European allies about U.S. military strategy
Administration had confirmed 4,000 troops would not deploy to Poland
Concerns over NATO members' defense contributions
Mentioned in this story
Donald TrumpPolandNATO
President Donald Trump attends an event about loosening a federal refrigerant rule, in the Oval Office at the White House, Thursday, May 21, 2026, in Washington.
President Donald Trump attends an event about loosening a federal refrigerant rule, in the Oval Office at the White House, Thursday, May 21, 2026, in Washington.
Jacquelyn Martin/AP
Jacquelyn Martin/AP
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Thursday said the U.S. will send an additional 5,000 troops to Poland, stirring confusion following weeks of changing statements from Trump and his administration about reducing — not increasing — the American military footprint in Europe.
The Trump administration has said it was reducing levels in Europe by about 5,000 troops, and U.S. officials confirmed about 4,000 service members were no longer deploying to Poland. Trump's social media announcement raises more uncertainty for European allies that have been blindsided by the changes as the administration has complained about NATO members not shouldering enough of the burden of their own defense and failing to do more to support the Iran war.
"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 said on Truth Social.
Trump and the Pentagon have said in recent weeks that they were drawing down at least 5,000 troops in Germany after Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the U.S. was being "humiliated" by the Iranian leadership and criticized what he called a lack of strategy in the war.
Q&A
Why is Trump sending 5,000 troops to Poland?
Trump's announcement aims to bolster U.S. military presence in Europe amid concerns over NATO members' defense contributions.
What changes did the Trump administration previously announce regarding troops in Europe?
The administration had stated plans to reduce U.S. troop levels in Europe by about 5,000, with 4,000 service members confirmed not deploying to Poland.
How have European allies reacted to the troop deployment announcement?
European allies are reportedly confused and blindsided by the sudden shift in U.S. military strategy regarding troop levels in Europe.
What are the implications of increasing U.S. troops in Poland for NATO?
Increasing U.S. troops in Poland may heighten tensions within NATO regarding defense responsibilities and the U.S. commitment to European security.
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Mayor Thorsten Grädler of Vilseck, Germany, discovered that his town could be the target of President Trump's U.S. troop cuts on his first day in office, when a journalist told him during a press conference. Grädler says the impact on his town would be "dramatic."
Trump then told reporters at the beginning of the month that the U.S. would be "cutting a lot further than 5,000."
As of last week, some 4,000 troops from the Army's 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division were no longer en route to Poland. The Associated Press reported that the canceled deployment was part of an effort to comply with Trump's order to reduce the number of troops in Europe. A deployment to Germany of personnel trained to fire long-range missiles also was halted.
Democratic and Republican lawmakers alike criticized the reductions as sending the wrong signal both to allies and Russian President Vladimir Putin during the 4-year-old war in Ukraine.
Republican Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska said during a congressional hearing that he spoke with Polish officials and they were "blindsided." He called the decision "reprehensible" and said it was "an embarrassment to our country what we just did to Poland."
Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said Tuesday that it was "a temporary delay" of the deployment of U.S. forces to Poland, which he called a "model U.S. ally." He said it was a result of the U.S. reducing the number of brigade combat teams assigned to Europe from four to three and indicated the Pentagon still needed to decide which troops to station where.
It was not clear whether that meant the brigade would resume its deployment to Poland, if additional troops on top of that rotational deployment could be added, or whether there would still be a drawdown of U.S. troops in Europe but from a different country. The Pentagon referred requests for comment to the White House, which did not immediately respond to messages seeking clarity.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Defense Undersecretary Elbridge Colby both spoke with with their Polish counterparts this week. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk had said Wednesday that he was happy to hear "Washington's declaration that Poland will be treated as it deserves."
As of Tuesday, U.S. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, commander of both American and NATO forces in Europe, told reporters in Brussels that "it will be 5,000 troops coming out of Europe."
Trump's announcement came as Secretary of State Marco Rubio was on his way to Sweden to meet with his NATO counterparts, who have been questioning the Trump administration's policies on reduced U.S. troop levels in Europe.
"There seems to be no process to deliberating policies like troop withdrawals and deployments at the top," said Ian Kelly, a retired career diplomat who served as U.S. ambassador to Georgia during the Obama and first Trump administrations and now teaches international relations at Northwestern University in Illinois.
Kelly said Rubio may have a tough time in explaining Trump's wild swings to Europeans who are craving certainty and consistency even if they might disagree.
"These are not well thought out decisions," Kelly said. "These are impulsive decisions based on Trump's whims or what his advisors think are Trump's whims."
