US troop deployment shift sparks shock in Poland and raises NATO uncertainty

A confidential memo from U.S. Ambassador Thomas Rose to Secretary of State Marco Rubio revealed that the Pentagon’s May 13 decision to cancel a planned rotation of roughly 4,000 American soldiers to Poland caused “serious political and psychological shock” in Warsaw. Days later, President Donald Trump announced an additional 5,000 troops for Poland, reversing the earlier cancellation and intensifying feelings of “betrayal” and “disappointment” among Polish officials.

The memo suggested a smaller, permanent U.S. presence focused on command, logistics, air defence and rapid‑deployment capabilities, arguing it could save millions of dollars compared with large rotating units. Czech President Petr Pavel, speaking at the GLOBSEC forum, warned that the unpredictable U.S. communication undermines NATO cohesion and cited the Polish episode as evidence of insufficient coordination. Pavel called for stronger European defence measures and a decisive NATO response to Russian hybrid provocations, stressing that reliance on U.S. decisions alone jeopardises European security.