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US delayed troop deployment to Poland, Vance says

19.05.2026 22:30
US Vice President JD Vance said on Tuesday that a planned deployment of American troops to Poland had been delayed, but rejected suggestions that the United States was withdrawing forces from Europe.
US Vice President JD Vance.
US Vice President JD Vance.Photo: EPA/SAMUEL CORUM

Speaking at a White House briefing, Vance said Washington wanted European allies to "take more ownership" of collective defence.

"We're not talking about pulling every single American troop out of Europe," Vance said, as cited by the Reuters news agency. "We're talking about shifting some resources around in a way that maximizes American security. I don't think that's bad for Europe."

'We've not reduced the troop levels in Poland'

Responding to a question from Polish Radio's Washington correspondent Marek Wałkuski, Vance said the Pentagon had not reduced troop levels in Poland.

"We've not reduced the troop levels in Poland by 4,000 troops," he said. What we did is that we delayed a troop deployment that was going to go to Poland, that's not a reduction, that's just a standard delay in rotation that sometimes happens in these situations," Vance said.

Reports that a planned deployment of 4,000 US troops to Poland had been halted prompted concern in Warsaw and criticism from some US lawmakers worried about the future of Washington’s commitments to European allies.

US commitment to Poland 'unchanged': defence minister

Earlier on Tuesday, Polish Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said after a call with US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth that Washington remained committed to its military presence in Poland.

“The US Secretary of War confirmed that the United States’ commitment to Poland’s defence and security remains unchanged,” Kosiniak-Kamysz wrote on X.

“Our military relations are strong and were clearly reaffirmed today,” he added. "During our conversation, I heard repeatedly that Poland is a model ally and can fully count on the United States."

Kosiniak-Kamysz said a broader redeployment of US military forces and assets in Europe was underway, but stressed that "no decision has been made to reduce US military capabilities in Poland."

Poland, a NATO member since 1999, views its alliance with the United States as a cornerstone of national security amid Russia’s ongoing war in neighbouring Ukraine.

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Source: IAR, PAP, Reuters, polskieradio24.pl