The U.S. military is reducing its troop presence in Europe, with a focus on temporary deployments and rotational forces. According to the Pentagon, the move is a temporary delay in deployments to Poland.
The U.S. currently has two permanently stationed brigades on the Continent: the 2nd Cavalry Regiment in Vilseck, Germany, and the 173rd Airborne in Vicenza, Italy. A third brigade still operates on a rotational basis, mostly in Poland.
The reduction returns U.S. brigade combat team levels to those seen in 2021, prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The move cancels the planned nine-month deployment of a Fort Hood, Texas-based armored brigade to Poland, reducing the number of Army brigade combat teams in Europe from four to three.
According to Stars and Stripes, the Pentagon described the change as a “temporary delay” in deployments to Poland, which is considered a “model U.S. ally.” The decision not to deploy the long-range fires battalion is seen as more serious, as Europe suffers from a real deterrence gap.
The U.S. military had around 38,000 troops in Germany as of 2025, and 80,000 troops in Europe overall. The reduction is part of a broader effort to reassess the U.S. military presence in Europe, with a focus on temporary deployments and rotational forces.