WASHINGTON (TNND) — President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he will send 5,000 troops to Poland in an apparent reversal of a Pentagon order last week that halted more than 4,000 Army soldiers headed to the U.S. ally in Europe.
The president explained the decision on social media, saying it is because of the 2025 election of Poland’s President Karol Nawrocki.
“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 wrote on Truth Social.
The Fort Hood, Texas-based “Black Jack” brigade had been preparing for a nine-month rotation to Poland, where more than 10,000 U.S. troops currently serve on a rotational basis. The brigade held a casing ceremony on May 1 ahead of the deployment, according to Stars and Stripes.
Parts of the brigade’s advance echelon had already arrived in Poland, while equipment shipments were reportedly underway when the deployment was called off.
Army officials confirmed the cancellation, first reported by Army Times, but declined to explain the decision, referring questions to the Defense Department.
The move prompted confusion among NATO allies and defense officials.
“It is confusing, and not always easy to navigate,” Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard told reporters Friday during a meeting she hosted with NATO counterparts, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Rubio downplayed the issue, saying “the United States continues to have global commitments that it needs to meet in terms of our force deployment, and that constantly requires us to reexamine where we put troops.”
About 80,000 U.S. troops are stationed in Europe. The Pentagon is required to keep at least 76,000 troops and major equipment on the continent unless NATO allies are consulted and there is a determination that such a withdrawal is in U.S. interests.
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Editor’s note: The Associated Press contributed to this article.