US Plan to Send Troops to Poland Changed; VP Vance Clarifies It's a Postponement, Not Cancellation
In a White House briefing in Washington on the 19th, U.S. Vice President JD Vance clarified that the plan to deploy 4,000 soldiers to Poland is "postponed," not "canceled." He emphasized that this is part of the Trump administration's policy to push European allies to take more responsibility for their own defense and "stand on their own feet," aiming to reallocate resources in a way that maximizes U.S. security. The final destination for these troops has not yet been decided.
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- 📰 Published: May 20, 2026 at 10:17
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(Washington, May 19, AFP/Reuters) U.S. Vice President JD Vance stated today that the plan to deploy 4,000 soldiers to Poland is postponed, not canceled, while also emphasizing that Europe must "stand on its own two feet."
According to reports from AFP and Reuters, U.S. officials revealed last week that the deployment plan had been canceled, marking the latest move by the Trump administration to reduce forces stationed in NATO allied countries in Europe.
Vance is one of the Trump administration's most prominent critics of Europe and holds strong skepticism about U.S. aid to Ukraine. At a White House briefing, he pointed out that since his first term, Trump has been urging European allies to share more responsibility for their own defense.
"We must have more sovereignty and have more European countries stand on their own two feet. This will continue to be our policy in Europe," Vance said at the briefing.
He said, "We are not talking about withdrawing every American soldier from Europe. We are talking about shifting some resources in a way that maximizes American security. I don't think this is a bad thing for Europe."
However, when asked about the 4,000 soldiers and Poland, Vance replied: "It's a postponement of a troop rotation. These forces may go to other parts of Europe. We may decide to send them elsewhere."
"We have not, in fact, made a final decision on where those troops are ultimately going to go."
A senior U.S. military officer stated in a congressional hearing last week that the commander of the U.S. European Command had "received instructions regarding a force reduction in Poland." Poland is a key ally on NATO's eastern flank, bordering Russia.
Trump seems determined to punish allies who failed to support wars in the Middle East or did not contribute to peacekeeping forces in the critical Strait of Hormuz, a waterway effectively closed by Iran.
The Pentagon announced in early May that Washington would withdraw 5,000 soldiers from Germany.
According to reports from AFP and Reuters, U.S. officials revealed last week that the deployment plan had been canceled, marking the latest move by the Trump administration to reduce forces stationed in NATO allied countries in Europe.
Vance is one of the Trump administration's most prominent critics of Europe and holds strong skepticism about U.S. aid to Ukraine. At a White House briefing, he pointed out that since his first term, Trump has been urging European allies to share more responsibility for their own defense.
"We must have more sovereignty and have more European countries stand on their own two feet. This will continue to be our policy in Europe," Vance said at the briefing.
He said, "We are not talking about withdrawing every American soldier from Europe. We are talking about shifting some resources in a way that maximizes American security. I don't think this is a bad thing for Europe."
However, when asked about the 4,000 soldiers and Poland, Vance replied: "It's a postponement of a troop rotation. These forces may go to other parts of Europe. We may decide to send them elsewhere."
"We have not, in fact, made a final decision on where those troops are ultimately going to go."
A senior U.S. military officer stated in a congressional hearing last week that the commander of the U.S. European Command had "received instructions regarding a force reduction in Poland." Poland is a key ally on NATO's eastern flank, bordering Russia.
Trump seems determined to punish allies who failed to support wars in the Middle East or did not contribute to peacekeeping forces in the critical Strait of Hormuz, a waterway effectively closed by Iran.
The Pentagon announced in early May that Washington would withdraw 5,000 soldiers from Germany.