In a surprising turn of events, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has called off two significant military deployments to Europe, a decision that includes sending some personnel back to the United States. This move comes amidst President Donald Trump’s criticism of European nations for their level of support, according to two defense officials.
The cancellations, outlined in a memo signed by Hegseth, affect the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team from the 1st Cavalry Division, which was slated to rotate through Poland, the Baltic states, and Romania. Some members of this brigade had already arrived in Europe and will now need to return to the U.S., the officials confirmed.
Additionally, plans to deploy a battalion to Germany, specializing in long-range rockets and missiles, have also been scrapped. The directive includes dismantling a command structure in Europe responsible for overseeing these capabilities.
This strategic shift might be an attempt to navigate the complexities of reducing troop numbers in Europe without immediately withdrawing those permanently stationed in Germany, especially those with families based there. This approach allows for a reduction in presence while sidestepping some logistical hurdles.
The cancellation of scheduled rotations and deployments could be a way to work around the logistical challenges of quickly withdrawing forces who are permanently stationed in Germany, particularly those whose families are also stationed there, while still bringing numbers down.
There are roughly 4700 soldiers in the brigade combat team whose deployment to Europe has been cancelled, and over 500 soldiers in the long-range rocket and missile battalion, one of the defence officials said.
As of 2025 there were roughly 38,000 US troops in Germany, according to the Council on Foreign Relations, and 80,000 troops in Europe overall.