America cancels deployment of troops to Poland in latest blow to Europe security

America has cancelled the deployment of US troops to Poland in a fresh blow for Nato. Photo / Getty Images

The US Department of Defence has abruptly cancelled the deployment of 4000 troops to Poland, prompting calls for Europe to end its military reliance on the US.

Troops from the second Armoured Brigade Combat Team, which forms part of America’s first Cavalry Division, had already been sent abroad to prepare for the group’s arrival when a defence department memo cancelled the operation.

Poland is a critical line of defence, protecting Nato’s eastern flank from Russia, with US troops providing significant military muscle as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve.

The move is another blow to Europe following the decision by US President Donald Trump to withdraw 5000 US troops from Germany.

Trump was said to have been angered by German leader Friedrich Merz’s claim that Iran had “humiliated” American troops.

General Sir Richard Shirreff, who served as Nato Deputy Supreme Commander Europe from 2011-2014, told the Daily Telegraph that Britain must “wake up to the fact” America was no longer “underwriting European security”.

The former Nato commander accused Trump of having a “hissy fit” over the comments by Merz, which appeared to have prompted the withdrawal.

Sir Richard said: “Wake up Nato to the fact America is no longer underwriting security. Wake up to the fact Europe and Canada have to revamp Nato to be an alliance of middle powers.

“What’s happened is no surprise … The Labour Party must stop its ridiculous inter-fighting and sign off on that long-delayed defence investment plan.”

The US sought to boost its military footprint across Europe after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, expanding to two divisional headquarters and five brigades. But that has been almost halved in the past 18 months to one divisional HQ and three brigades.

The scrapping of the Poland mission appeared to come with little warning. On May 1, the brigade combat team reportedly held a colour casing ceremony, which is traditionally done before being deployed.

Speaking previously, Major General Tom Feltey, the head of the 1st Cavalry Division, said: “Make no mistake, our adversaries are paying attention.

“When an armoured brigade combat team deploys forward, it sends a clear and unmistakable signal ... [it] is the embodiment of American ground combat power.”

Merz claimed the US had been “humiliated by the Iranian leadership” after an American delegation left negotiations in Islamabad on April 12 without a peace deal.

Trump has repeatedly criticised Merz since his remarks, saying he was “doing a terrible job” and “doesn’t know what he’s talking about”.

The US currently has around 35,000 active-duty troops in Germany, which constitutes the bulk of America’s military presence on the continent.

An insider previously told the Telegraph that Trump could instead redeploy the troops to Poland, Romania, the Middle East or Greenland.

Bolstering the US presence in Greenland would cause consternation in Europe after Trump repeatedly threatened to annex the territory, which belongs to Nato ally Denmark.

- The Telegraph

Sign up to Herald Premium Editor’s Picks, delivered straight to your inbox every Friday. Editor-in-Chief Murray Kirkness picks the week’s best features, interviews and investigations. Sign up for Herald Premium here.