The U.S. Army Europe and Africa (USAREUR-AF) Command has announced the withdrawal of its units from Jasionka airfield near Rzeszów, a key logistics hub that has facilitated military aid transfers to Ukraine since the full-scale russian invasion began in February 2022. Located just 80 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, the airfield has played a crucial role in sustaining Kyiv’s war effort.
The decision to relocate troops and equipment was made after many months of assessment and planning in close cooperation with NATO partners, USAREUR-AF noted that the airfield’s operations will continue under the leadership of Poland and other Alliance members.
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"This transition is part of a broader strategy to optimize U.S. military operations, improving the level of support to Allies and partners while also enhancing efficiencies," reads the official statement.
American units previously stationed near Rzeszów have been redeployed to other U.S. facilities in Poland, though their exact locations have not been specified. However, it is worth noting that the U.S. 5th Army Corps headquarters is based in Poznań, western Poland.
Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz confirmed that the airfield is now primarily staffed by Norwegian, German, British, and Polish personnel, along with other NATO allies, and that its operations will continue uninterrupted.
Wojska USA zostają w Polsce! Zgodnie z decyzją podjętą na szczycie NATO w Waszyngtonie zmienia się charakter misji w Jasionce. Dotychczasowe zadania wojsk USA w Jasionce przejmowane są przez kolejnych sojuszników. Wojska USA pozostają w Polsce, ale w innych lokalizacjach. Teraz…— Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz (@KosiniakKamysz) April 8, 2025
He also recalled that the decision to transfer control of the Rzeszów hub to NATO was first announced in July 2024. Defense Express reminds that this transition is linked to the establishment of the NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU) command, headquartered in Wiesbaden, Germany.
The purpose of creating NSATU is to centralize the management, planning, coordination, and organization of arms deliveries to Ukraine in one office with 700 specialists. It will also oversee training programs for Ukrainian forces and manage logistics hubs across NATO’s eastern flank, including Jasionka airfield.
The drawdown of U.S. troops in Rzeszów was anticipated and is not a split-second decision by the new Trump administration. However, the timing of its implementation has amplified its media resonance.
First, it follows Trump’s refusal to authorize new military aid packages for Ukraine. Second, it coincides with the broader erosion of Europe’s security framework, mainly due to Washngton's recent actions, up to a U.S. withdrawal from its leadership position in NATO. Not to mention the prospects of a larger-scale pullback of American forces from Europe, particularly the 10,000 personnel currently stationed in Poland and Romania, the pillars of Eastern Flank.
Furthermore, the very presence of U.S. troops at Jasionka airfield has served as a deterrent to russia. Throughout 2022 and 2023, voices in Moscow repeatedly called for a long-range strike on the facility, recognizing its strategic importance in supplying Ukraine.
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