The announcement said "the transition is part of a broader strategy to optimize US military operations, improving the level of support to Allies and partners while also enhancing efficiencies."
US Army Europe and Africa said "the decision to reposition troops and equipment reflects months of assessment and planning, coordinated closely with Polish hosts and NATO Allies."
Polish President Andrzej Duda and Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz both stressed that the United States is not withdrawing troops from Poland but rather repositioning them within the country.
"It’s merely a relocation to different Polish sites," Duda told reporters during a visit to Tallinn, Estonia.
Kosiniak-Kamysz said the shift aligns with decisions made at NATO at its 2023 summit in Washington, adding that the US troops will "remain in Poland, but in other bases."
The US Army statement noted that US forces in 2022 "established a temporary presence in Jasionka after the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine."
It added that the site "is not at a permanent Polish military base, but has been used by US, NATO and partner forces" for three years.
"In the meantime, the US Army has established US Army Garrison Poland and more robust facilities based on host-nation agreements and significant investment in those facilities from both the Polish and US governments," the statement said.
The repositioning comes after other NATO allies, including Norway, Germany and the UK, have assumed roles at Jasionka, public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.
Gen. Christopher Donahue, commander of US Army Europe and Africa, said the relocation could "save American taxpayers tens of millions of dollars per year."
Officials underscored that the move had undergone extensive planning, with final decisions confirmed after consultations involving Poland and other NATO partners.
US broadcaster NBC News reported on Tuesday that Pentagon officials are considering a plan to withdraw 10,000 troops from Eastern Europe, though no final decisions have been made.
(jh/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP