WASHINGTON: The United States has cancelled the planned deployment of 4,000 soldiers to Poland, US officials said on Friday, as Washington reorganises its forces in Europe after announcing it would withdraw thousands of troops from Germany.

The head of US European Command “received the instructions on the force reduction”, Gen Christopher LaNeve, the acting chief of staff of the US Army, said during a congressional hearing.

“I’ve worked with him in close consultation on what that force unit would be, and it... made the most sense for that brigade to not do its deployment in theatre,” LaNeve said, referring to an armoured brigade combat team.

Some elements of the unit had already been sent overseas and its equipment was in transit, the general said.

Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll, testifying alongside LaNeve, said the unit’s planned deployment was cancelled “a couple days ago”. At the beginning of this month, the Pentagon announced that Washington would pull 5,000 troops from Germany.

Published in Dawn, May 16th, 2026