In mid-May 2026 US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth abruptly cancelled a sizeable deployment of US troops to Poland, as well as following through with an expected cancellation of a US deployment to Germany.

First reported by the Army Times on 13 May, the Polish cancellation affected the planned deployment of more than 4,000 soldiers and equipment from 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team (2ABCT), 1st Cavalry Division, on a nine-month rotation through Poland and other European countries.

Such was the tardiness of the cancellation that troops from the 2ABCT had already started arriving in country, only to be ordered to head back home.

According to reporting by CNN, a memo by Hegseth also cancelled the upcoming deployment to Germany by the US Army’s 3rd Battalion, 12th Field Artillery Regiment, although this was expected in the wake of US President Donald Trump’s recent spat with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. On 27 April Merz, who has refused to allow Germany to be drawn into the US/Israeli war with Iran, told students in Marsberg that the United States “is being humiliated by the Iranian leadership” in its failure to negotiate an end to the conflict. In response, Trump had the Pentagon officially announce on 1 May that 5,000 US troops would be withdrawn from Germany.

Cancellation of the Polish deployment, however, was completely unexpected, especially given that in previous years Trump has praised Poland for its commitment to increased spending on defence. According to the latest NATO estimates in defence spending as a share of GDP, in 2025 Poland topped all other allies with a defence spending level of 4.48%.

While Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk played down the cancelled deployment, telling reporters on 15 May that the decision to pull the US deployment was “logistical in nature” and would not directly affect deterrence capabilities or Poland’s security, officials within the Polish Ministry of National Defence have made it clear that they were blindsided by the decision.

Deputy Defence Minister Paweł Zalewski told Poland’s Radio TOK FM talk radio station on 18 May, “No one in Poland knew that the rotation of the American brigade would be suspended.”

During a House Armed Services Committee (HASC) hearing on 15 May, the acting US Army Chief of Staff, General Christopher LaNeve, along with Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, drew considerable flak from both sides of the US political isle in addressing the cancelled Polish deployment.

Republican Representative for Nebraska Don Bacon stated, “It was reprehensive. It’s an embarrassment to our country, what we just did to Poland. … This is a slap in the face to Poland. It’s a slap in the face to our Baltic friends.”

When Gen LaNeve and Secretary Driscoll appeared to fall short of an adequate explanation, HASC Chairman Mike Rogers, a Republican Representative from Alabama stated, “We have been very focused on this committee about force posture, and EUCOM [US European Command] in particular not being disturbed, particularly without — what the statute requires — is consultation with us, and we didn’t get that, so we don’t know what’s going on here, but I just tell you we’re not happy.”

Adam Smith, a Democrat Representative from Washington state and the HASC Ranking Member, added, “It is a pretty dramatic decision to, at the last minute, pull a team that you’re trying to send over there. If there’s some strategy behind it, then you guys ought to know, and you ought to be able to communicate it to us.”

Ben Hodges, who as a US Army lieutenant general commanded US Army Europe, was quoted by Politico as stating that the US Army’s role in Europe “is all about deterring the Russians, protecting America’s strategic interests and assuring allies. And now a very important asset that was coming to be part of that deterrence is gone.

“The Poles certainly have never criticised President Trump, and they do all the things that good allies are supposed to do,” added Hodges. “And yet, this happens.”

These recent deployment cancellations are also not the only ones. Pentagon officials announced in October 2025 that a US Army brigade that was scheduled to leave Romania late last year would not be replaced.

At the HASC meeting on 15 May Representative Bacon noted that this meant the US military has now withdrawn two brigades from Europe, stating, “We’re sending a terrible message to Russia and to our allies.”

Thus, while NATO allies in Europe – especially those that have a border with Russia – continue to bolster their deterrence against potential Russian aggression, such as the Baltic States’ efforts in developing the Baltic Defence Line, the United States is appearing a less than stalwart ally in that endeavour.