President Donald Trump announced on May 21 that the United States will send 5,000 additional troops to Poland, citing strong relations with Polish President Karol Nawrocki. The announcement was made via a post on the social media platform Truth Social.
“In light of the successful election of current Polish President Karol Nawrocki, whom I proudly supported, and considering our relationship, I am pleased to announce that the United States will send 5,000 additional troops to Poland,” Trump stated.
Details regarding the timeline for troop deployment and specific locations within Poland were not disclosed. This comes after a previous report on May 14 from Defense News, which indicated that the Pentagon had canceled the deployment of a combat group from the 2nd Armored Brigade of the 1st Cavalry Division, involving over 4,000 American soldiers and associated equipment, to Poland.
On May 19, Vice President Jay D. Vance clarified that the U.S. had not reduced its military presence but had delayed the deployment of these 4,000 soldiers. He emphasized that the U.S. aims to promote European independence and enhance territorial integrity.
Earlier, on May 2, U.S. media reported that the Department of Defense plans to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany, relocating them to the U.S. and other overseas positions. Currently, there are approximately 36,000 American troops stationed in Germany. Trump had previously hinted at a more significant reduction of U.S. military presence in Germany.
On April 30, amidst tensions with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz over the Iran conflict, Trump mentioned that his administration was considering reducing troop numbers in Germany. He has also indicated potential reductions in military presence in Italy, citing NATO allies’ reluctance to support U.S. and Israeli actions against Iran.
In May 2025, U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker stated that Washington intends to initiate discussions with European allies regarding the reduction of American troops in Europe.
President Trump has announced plans to send 5,000 additional troops to Poland, emphasizing strong ties with the new Polish president. This decision follows a series of military adjustments in Europe, including troop withdrawals from Germany.