Poland's deputy defense minister said Warsaw will press U.S. officials in the coming days over the Pentagon's decision to halt a planned armored brigade rotation of U.S. Army soldiers — a move that rattled one of Washington's closest NATO allies despite assurances that U.S. troop levels in Poland would remain unchanged.
The comments come weeks after the Pentagon halted a planned rotation of approximately 4,000 U.S. Army troops to Poland, sparking concern in Warsaw and criticism from U.S. lawmakers. The move affected the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, which had been scheduled to deploy to Poland and other eastern flank positions as part of a routine nine-month NATO force rotation.
Around 10,000 U.S. troops are typically stationed in Poland, most serving on rotational deployments lasting several months at a time. Because the U.S. military presence in Poland relies heavily on those recurring rotations, the halted brigade deployment raised concerns in Warsaw. Polish officials stressed that Warsaw still views itself as a "model ally" within NATO and expects military cooperation with the United States to continue expanding.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive Democrats have largely supported the Trump administration's broader effort to reduce the U.S. military footprint in Europe and push NATO allies to assume greater responsibility for continental security. The administration has repeatedly threatened to reduce U.S. support for allies it says spend too little on defense, arguing that European governments should bear more of the burden for their own protection.
Some Democratic lawmakers have echoed this position, noting that while Poland is a valued ally, the United States cannot maintain indefinite troop deployments worldwide without greater cost-sharing from partners. They argue that NATO members must meet their financial commitments before expecting expanded U.S. military presence in Europe.
What the Right Is Saying
Republican lawmakers expressed sharp criticism of the Pentagon's decision, with several arguing it sends the wrong signal to Russia at a critical moment in the Ukraine conflict. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., called the canceled brigade rotation "a slap in the face to Poland" during a House Armed Services Committee hearing.
House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers said lawmakers had not been properly consulted on the decision. "Congress should have been notified before this announcement," Rogers stated. "Our Polish allies deserve better communication, and so do we."
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth previously praised Poland as a "model ally" during a February visit to Warsaw. "The level of partnership — just to underscore here — is unmatched in Europe," Hegseth said at the time.
What the Numbers Show
Poland spends 4.8% of its GDP on defense, making it the highest-spending NATO country relative to economic output among European members. By comparison, Germany allocates approximately 2.1% and the NATO alliance-wide target is 2%.
Approximately 10,000 U.S. troops are typically stationed in Poland at any given time, with most serving on rotational deployments lasting several months. The canceled rotation would have deployed roughly 4,000 additional soldiers from the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.
The halted rotation comes as the Pentagon separately announced plans to withdraw approximately 5,000 U.S. troops from Germany earlier in 2026.
The Bottom Line
Polish Deputy Defense Minister Paweł Zalewski told Fox News Digital that Warsaw will seek clarification from Pentagon officials and members of Congress in the coming days. "We will ask questions and I guess that we will get answers," he said, referencing recent assurances from President Trump to Poland's president-elect that the U.S. would maintain its armed forces in the country.
Deputy Foreign Minister Marcin Bosacki acknowledged frustration about how the situation was communicated while emphasizing that Poland has received assurances the U.S. does not plan to reduce troop numbers or capabilities. "It should have been communicated better," Bosacki said. "But we take U.S. reassurance that U.S. doesn't plan to reduce neither of the number nor the capabilities of the U.S. troops in Poland."
The Pentagon declined to detail the reasons for the halted rotation, with acting press secretary Joel Valdez stating only that the decision followed a comprehensive review incorporating perspectives from EUCOM leadership and chain-of-command officials.