US relocates troops in Poland, to halve troops in eastern Europe
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The US military announced that it will relocate its troops stationed at the Jasionka logistics hub to another location in Poland, while NBC reported that the US could halve its presence in eastern Europe.
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US Army soldiers sit atop an armoured vehicle parked in the old town ahead of a military parade during celebrations of the 107th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia in Tallinn, Estonia, Monday, Feb. 24, 2025 (AP)
The United States military will withdraw troops and equipment from Jasionka, a critical logistics hub in Europe handling most weapons shipments to Ukraine, as confirmed in an announcement by a US military general on Tuesday.
“After three years at Jasionka this is an opportunity to right-size our footprint,” stated Christopher Donahue, commanding general of the US Army Europe and Africa, while the US military asserted that the withdrawal of troops from the Polish base is part of a “long-planned effort to optimize operations while keeping support for Ukraine and NATO strong."
The US military added that “the important work of facilitating military aid to Ukraine via Jasionka will continue under Polish and NATO leadership, supported by a streamlined U.S. military footprint. Poland and its allies will maintain the robust protective infrastructure around this critical site."
US forces currently stationed in Poland will be relocated to other locations within the country.
A spokesperson for the US Army Europe and Africa confirmed this move in an emailed response to POLITICO, however, they declined to provide specific dates for the troop movements, citing operational security concerns.
"Duties previously carried out by US forces in Jasionka are now being taken over by other allies,” Polish Defense Minister WÅ‚adysÅ‚aw Kosiniak-Kamysz said in a post on X, adding that "US troops remain in Poland but are stationed at different locations. The mission in Jasionka is now primarily carried out by Norwegian, German, British, and Polish forces, along with other allied troops.”
Meanwhile, NBC News reported Tuesday that the United States could withdraw 10,000 troops from eastern Europe, a move that some analysts fear might embolden Russia.
Currently, approximately 100,000 American troops are stationed in Europe, among which 65,000 are permanently based on the continent, while the remainder consists of rotating personnel and temporary reinforcements.
According to six US and European officials cited by NBC, discussions are underway about potentially halving the US troop deployment in eastern Europe by reducing numbers in Romania and Poland, as President Donald Trump has been pushing for a swift resolution to the more than three-year war in Ukraine since taking office.
During a House Armed Services Committee hearing on Tuesday, when questioned about potential plans to alter the US military footprint in eastern Europe, General Christopher Cavoli indicated that no such changes were currently under consideration.
