The Trump administration has cut the number of U.S. Brigade Combat Teams in Europe from four to three, returning American ground forces on the continent to the levels seen in 2021.
The move, announced on Tuesday, May 19, by Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell, also delays a planned deployment of thousands of troops to Poland.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signed off on the decision after reviewing U.S. force posture across Europe.
The statement from the Department of War said the change came after a detailed review of American strategic needs and of what NATO allies can contribute to their own defense.
Trump’s America First Approach
It fits squarely into President Donald Trump’s America First approach, which aims to make European countries shoulder a greater share of the burden for protecting their region.
“This decision was the result of a comprehensive, multilayered process focused on U.S. force posture in Europe,” the statement read.
The department will now decide the final placement of forces based on further analysis of both U.S. requirements and allies’ capabilities.
Hegseth personally called Polish Deputy Prime Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz on Tuesday to discuss the matter.
U.S. officials said they plan to stay in close touch with Warsaw and keep a strong military presence in Poland, which they called a model ally that has shown it can defend itself.
The cut affects roughly one brigade, with reports indicating the cancellation of a deployment of about 4,000 soldiers from the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team of the 1st Cavalry Division.
Those troops had been expected to rotate through Poland and other eastern European countries. Some personnel and equipment were already on the way when the order came down.
This is not the first step; earlier this month, the administration announced plans to withdraw about 5,000 troops from Germany.
The decisions come as Trump has repeatedly criticized NATO members for not spending enough on defense and for failing to meet their commitments.
For years, the U.S. has kept a large military footprint in Europe, especially after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.
U.S. forces offered training, equipment and a visible deterrent. But Trump has long argued that wealthy European nations have used American protection as an excuse to underfund their own militaries, instead building expansive social programs.
“Other NATO allies should follow suit,” the Pentagon statement said, pointing to Poland’s efforts as an example.
Poland has increased its defense spending sharply in recent years, bought new equipment from the U.S. and South Korea, and expanded its armed forces.
NATO, as an alliance, has been pushing its members to reach 2% of GDP on defense spending, but only a handful of countries consistently hit that mark.
Trump has demanded higher targets and faster action, especially as the U.S. shifts more attention toward potential threats in the Pacific.
However, the reduction does not mean the U.S. is leaving Europe. Three Brigade Combat Teams still represent significant combat power. American air units, special operations forces, and prepositioned equipment remain in place.
The Pentagon said more details would be provided later through proper channels. The immediate priority is to finish the review and adjust deployments as required.
NATO Angers Trump
It is another chapter in Trump’s bid to reshape America’s overseas commitments.
During his first term, he pressed NATO allies hard on spending. In this term, he is turning words into troop numbers.
Trump was totally unimpressed after NATO allies refused to deploy military assets to help the U.S. in dealing with Iran after Tehran closed the Strait of Hormuz.
Other allies denied U.S. fighter jets the use of their skies to launch strikes against Iran, a move that made Trump start thinking of the value of these allies.
Poland will likely continue to receive strong U.S. support, given its location, spending levels, and close military ties.
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