The U.S. Defense Department has halted the deployment of more than 4,000 soldiers from a combat brigade to Europe, media reports said on Wednesday, in a move that surprised some military officials.

The decision was communicated during a meeting involving the U.S. military’s European Command (EUCOM) and parts of the U.S. Army, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing a Pentagon official.

The soldiers had been expected to deploy to Poland for a planned nine-month rotation.

The U.S. Army said in March that the brigade would replace other forces as part of a routine rotation.

According to the Wall Street Journal, some equipment and personnel were already en route, leaving some Army officials caught off guard by the decision.

The newspaper, citing several Pentagon officials, said EUCOM had recommended not replacing the more than 4,000 soldiers after their several-month rotational deployment, but had not pushed for the mission’s immediate cancellation.

Defence news platform Task and Purpose reported that the troops had been expected to work mainly with partner forces in Poland as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, a U.S. mission launched in 2014 following Russia’s annexation of Crimea to support NATO allies in Europe.

The reports come around two weeks after U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the withdrawal of about 5,000 U.S. troops from Germany.

Poland subsequently reiterated its willingness to host more U.S. forces.

Polish President Karol Nawrocki has said nearly 10,000 U.S. troops are currently stationed in Poland, with most rotating regularly among U.S. military bases across Europe. (dpa/NAN)