Poland Rushes to Act After Pentagon Abandons Troop Deployment Plan

The U.S. decision to cancel the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team’s deployment left Poland surprised. The reason behind the cancellation, made after the unit began preparations for Europe, wasn’t clear. Acting Pentagon press secretary Joel Valdez described the decision as expected and not last-minute. Donald Trump has expressed frustration with European allies over their lack of support in the Iran conflict, although Hegseth previously called Poland a model ally due to its top defense spending in NATO.

Poland, politically divided between Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s pro-EU government and nationalist President Karol Nawrocki, widely agrees on the importance of U.S. troops for defense against Russia. Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz contacted both Tusk and Nawrocki following the deployment’s cancelation news. He also spoke with U.S. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich on Thursday evening. “We are in constant contact with the U.S.,” Kosiniak-Kamysz told the Polish parliament. “Poland remains a steadfast ally, fulfilling its North Atlantic Treaty obligations and spending nearly 5 percent of GDP on defense.”