US army reshuffle in Poland: No withdrawal, just repositioning

• Equipment relocation: The US Army Command in Europe and Africa announced the planned relocation of American personnel and military equipment from the airport in Jasionka to other locations in Poland.
• The Prime Minister and the Minister of Defence emphasised that this does not mean the withdrawal of US forces from Poland.
• The transfer is part of a broader strategy aimed at improving support for allies and partners and enhancing the efficiency of military operations.

On Tuesday, the US Army announced the plan to relocate personnel and equipment from Jasionka near Rzeszów to other locations in Poland. As indicated in the statement, the decision aims, among other things, to optimise the efforts made by the US military and "reflects months of assessments and planning," conducted in coordination with Polish hosts and other NATO allies.

The matter was addressed in a statement sent to PAP by the Ministry of National Defence. It was assured that "the American troops are not withdrawing from Poland – a previously planned relocation of units is taking place."

The issue was also commented on by the Prime Minister of Poland Donald Tusk, President Andrzej Duda, and Minister of Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz. They all unanimously admitted that this comes as no surprise but rather as the implementation of a previously announced strategy, and US soldiers remain in Poland.

We asked former Land Forces Commander Gen. Waldemar Skrzypczak about the US military statement. "From what was evident in the US command's statement on Europe, it was agreed at the NATO level and with the Polish government," the interviewee recalled to Wirtualna Polska.

Simultaneously, he noted that the American statement caused some confusion. "The US statement was not coordinated with the Polish government's statement. Since the Americans claim it was agreed with NATO and the Polish government, the government should simultaneously issue its own statement," Gen. Skrzypczak stated.

"The Americans break all principles of international communication and diplomacy. I believe that such a situation should not occur, where I issue this statement and the government remains silent, likely surprised. Where is the communication error?" Gen. Skrzypczak wonders.

Senior officials from the US Department of Defence are considering the proposal to withdraw up to 10,000 troops from Eastern Europe – NBC News reports, citing Pentagon sources. Could the relocation of troops from Jasionka be a sign of such a move?

"I wouldn't attach great importance to these reports, because conflicting messages flow daily from Washington and the Pentagon. Until there is an official statement from NATO or the Polish government, we should not fear that American soldiers will disappear from Poland," Gen. Skrzypczak assured.

We also asked Gen. Waldemar Skrzypczak whether the relocation of American troops means that the airport in Jasionka will disappear. "The relocation of American soldiers will certainly extend the arm of equipment distribution for Ukraine. American logistical convoys will more frequently appear on Polish roads and railways," the expert noted.

Gen. Skrzypczak is also convinced that the base in Jasionka should not disappear. "There's nothing else to do but maintain it, but for the needs of European countries helping Ukraine. The base exists and one must ensure that the support coming from Poland, France, or Germany to Ukraine passes through Jasionka. The base will certainly not become deserted, but its role will partially change," the respondent summed up to Wirtualna Polska.