"I received assurances... that these decisions are of a logistical nature and will not directly affect deterrence capabilities and our security,” Tusk said, adding that “everything is under control.” Poland, which looks to Washington as its prime security guarantor amid Russia’s war in Ukraine, hosts around 10,000 US soldiers—the second-largest American troop presence in Europe after Germany—most of them deployed on a rotational basis. Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said that “nothing is changing” regarding the presence of American troops in Poland and suggested that the new move by Washington was related to an earlier announcement to reduce the US military presence in Germany by 5,000 personnel. "Now the implementation of that decision is underway," Kosiniak-Kamysz posted on X on Friday. "It does not concern Poland, but it may indirectly influence decisions regarding rotations." A US lawmaker said no decision regarding the deployment to Poland had yet been notified to Congress, Reuters reported, adding that no formal announcement had been made. News broke on Thursday that US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had canceled a planned routine rotational deployment to Poland. The decision concerned a nine-month tour of duty by 4,000 Texas-based soldiers who were reportedly preparing to leave when the order to halt came. ‘We had no idea this was coming’ Following the move, US and European defense officials spent 24 hours on the phone trying to understand the situation and fathom whether more surprises lay in store, one anonymous US insider told Politico, adding: “We had no idea this was coming.” However, the Pentagon denied that the development was unexpected. “The decision to withdraw troops follows a comprehensive, multilayered process that incorporates perspectives from key leaders in [the US military in Europe] and across the chain of command,” the Department of Defense HQ said. “This was not an unexpected, last-minute decision.” Important asset ‘gone’ However, the rotation’s cancellation drew criticism from senior US political and former military figures. While senators demanded answers from the Pentagon, Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, the former commander of the US Army in Europe, told Politico that Washington’s military footprint 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 criticized President Trump, and they do all the things that good allies are supposed to do,” Hodges added. “And yet, this happens.”
