Pentagon cancels plan to deploy thousands of US troops to Poland

Washington (ANTARA) - The Pentagon has cancelled plans to temporarily deploy more than 4,000 troops based in the United States to Poland, several US media outlets reported, citing local officials.

The head of US European Command “has received instructions regarding troop reductions,” said acting chief of staff of the US Army, Christopher LaNeve, during a congressional hearing on Friday (15/5).

“I have consulted extensively with him regarding which troop units (will be reduced), and… the most sensible thing is that the brigade should not be deployed to the operational area,” said LaNeve, referring to the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team.

According to LaNeve, some elements of the unit have been sent abroad and its equipment is in the process of being shipped.

The order to cancel the deployment came from the office of US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, said LaNeve. As of now, no official announcement has been made.

Jeanne Shaheen, a member of the Democratic Party who serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said that Congress had not received notification of the decision.

“To my knowledge, we have not been informed about it,” she told the media.

Two weeks ago, the Pentagon announced that about 5,000 US troops would be withdrawn from Germany in the next six to twelve months.