The “Black Jack” Brigade Was On Its Way. Its Gear Had Already Shipped. And Then Trump’s Anger At NATO Over Iran Stopped The Poland Deployment In Its Tracks.
This article was compiled and made possible with the help of the following source(s): The Washington Post, Euronews, Stars And Stripes, ABC News, Bloomberg and Political Wire.
The Pentagon has abruptly scrapped plans to deploy a brigade of 4,200 US troops, one of the Army’s frontline tank formations to Poland, according to five US officials. The move would cut American combat power in Poland by nearly half.
The Army’s 1st Cavalry Division 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, based at Fort Hood, Texas, had been slated to replace another armored unit from the same division that deployed to Poland last year. The move came as a surprise both inside the unit and among defence officials and lawmakers. Preparations were already well underway, with the brigade having shipped much of its equipment and advance personnel into Europe.
The cancellation is part of a broader Pentagon plan to withdraw 5,000 soldiers from NATO territory in Germany, which itself followed a feud between President Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, after Merz characterised the US-Israeli war in Iran as ill-conceived and said the White House had been “humiliated” by Tehran. Trump reacted angrily, posting a series of messages attacking Merz and telling him to spend more time “fixing his broken country.”
A senior NATO military official confirmed the development to Euronews, stating that the replenishment forces “do not factor into NATO’s deterrence and defence plans,” and that NATO will “continue to maintain a strong presence on its eastern flank.”
Some 10,000 US troops currently remain in Poland. Polish Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz stated the cancellation “does not concern Poland” and relates to the previously announced change in US force posture.
The equipment is in Europe. The troops are not coming. Like this geopolitics oriented article? Read our previous article here.
