WASHINGTON, May 16 \u2014 The US has cancelled the planned deployment of 4,000 soldiers to Poland, US officials said yesterday, as Washington reorganises its forces in Europe after announcing it would withdraw thousands of troops from Germany.<\/p>\n
The head of US European Command \u201creceived the instructions on the force reduction,\u201d General Christopher LaNeve, the acting chief of staff of the US Army, said during a congressional hearing when asked about the cancelled deployment.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve worked with him in close consultation on what that force unit would be, and it… made the most sense for that brigade to not do its deployment in theatre,\u201d LaNeve said, referring to the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team.<\/p>\n
Some elements of the unit had already been sent overseas and its equipment was in transit, according to the general, who said the order to cancel the deployment came from Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth\u2019s office.<\/p>\n
Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll, testifying alongside LaNeve, said the deployment was scrapped \u201ca couple days ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
Republican Representative Don Bacon said Poland had not been informed in advance.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey called me yesterday. They did not know, they were blindsided,\u201d Bacon said during the hearing, describing the cancelled deployment as \u201creprehensible\u201d and \u201can embarrassment to our country.\u201d<\/p>\n
Representative Marilyn Strickland, a Democrat, also criticised the move, saying that \u201cwhen we take that many troops away, it says that we are not reliable ally.\u201d<\/p>\n
At the beginning of this month, the Pentagon announced that Washington would pull 5,000 troops from Germany, with spokesman Sean Parnell saying the withdrawal was expected \u201cto be completed over the next six to twelve months.\u201d<\/p>\n
Iran war dispute\u00a0<\/p>\n
That announcement came during a heated dispute between Donald Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz over the US-Israeli war against Iran, and the US president subsequently said the troop reduction would be \u201ca lot further than 5,000,\u201d without providing details.<\/p>\n
Poland\u2019s defence minister, Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, suggested yesterday that the cancellation of the deployment to his country could be related to the removal of troops from Germany.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf a brigade other than the one originally planned is sent to Poland \u2014 maybe the one from Germany \u2014 and 5,000 soldiers leave Germany for Poland… there is no change to the security guarantees,\u201d Kosiniak-Kamysz told reporters.<\/p>\n
Trump has threatened to slash US troop numbers in Germany and other European allies during both his White House terms, saying he wants Europe to take on greater responsibility for its defence rather than depending on Washington.<\/p>\n
He now appears determined to punish allies who have failed to back the Middle East war or contribute to a peacekeeping force in the crucial Strait of Hormuz waterway, which Tehran\u2019s forces have effectively closed.<\/p>\n
A Nato official told AFP yesterday that \u201cwe know that the US is working to adjust its posture in Europe.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA focus on rotational forces would not impact Nato\u2019s deterrence and defence plans. And we\u2019re already seeing increasing presence on the eastern flank from Canada and Germany \u2014 all of which contributes to a stronger Nato overall,\u201d the official added. \u2014 AFP<\/p>\n
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