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Conflicting U.S. messaging triggered what diplomats described as a “major political and psychological shock” in Poland after Washington scrapped a planned troop deployment before later reversing course, according to a Politico report citing a U.S. diplomatic cable.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday that Washington would deploy 5,000 troops to Poland, days after reports that a previously planned deployment had been canceled.
“I am pleased to announce that the United States will be sending an additional 5,000 Troops to Poland,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The announcement appeared to reverse an earlier Pentagon decision. Around 4,000 troops had previously been expected to deploy mainly to Poland and partly to neighboring countries before the plan was halted on May 13.
Trump’s statement raised further questions as the new deployment figure increased to 5,000 troops, although no details were immediately provided regarding timing or force composition.
According to Politico, the period between the cancellation and Trump’s reversal caused “disappointment,” “bewilderment,” and “genuine alarm” in Poland.
A diplomatic cable signed by U.S. Ambassador to Poland Tom Rose reportedly described the dominant reaction as one of perceived betrayal.
“The dominant emotional reaction is one of perceived betrayal, particularly given repeated public characterizations of Poland by President Trump as America’s most reliable and committed ally in Europe,” the cable said.
The document, marked sensitive but unclassified, was reportedly circulated to senior U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s office.
The cable also suggested that inconsistent U.S. messaging stretching back to former President Joe Biden’s administration had contributed to uncertainty. Biden had approved troop rotations following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Vice President JD Vance later said the deployment had been delayed rather than canceled and stressed that Trump had not yet made a final decision.
At the same time, Vance reiterated calls for Europe to stand on its “own two feet” on defense.
The troop controversy unfolded as Poland received its first F-35A fighter jets Friday under its military modernization program.
Poland became the first NATO country on the alliance’s eastern flank to begin operating the fifth-generation aircraft.
Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said the arrival marked “a new era” for Polish air capabilities and reflected years of investment in infrastructure, personnel and readiness.
Poland ordered 32 F-35A aircraft from the United States under a $4.6 billion agreement signed in January 2020. The aircraft carry the Polish designation “Husarz.”
The delivery comes as debates intensify inside Poland over the reliability of long-term U.S. security commitments.
Warsaw nevertheless continues expanding defense integration with Washington through procurement programs involving F-35 fighters, Patriot air defense systems, Abrams tanks, Apache helicopters and HIMARS launchers.
For successive Polish governments, the strategy has remained largely unchanged: deepen U.S. involvement through troop presence, procurement, training networks and long-term defense ties.
The arrival of the F-35s reinforced that approach, binding the two countries through training pipelines, maintenance systems, software infrastructure and industrial cooperation extending beyond political cycles.
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