Stryker armored vehicles of the U.S. Army’s 2nd Cavalry Regiment sit in the motor pool in Orzysz, Poland, in 2017. (Charles Rosemond/U.S. Army)
STUTTGART, Germany — A potential transfer of U.S. Army Stryker vehicles to Poland involves old equipment and isn’t tied to military force posture plans in Europe, U.S. Army Europe and Africa said in a statement Monday.
The Army’s comments came after reports emerged about a plan that involves the U.S. handing over about 250 Stryker vehicles to the Polish army. Polish Radio reported last week that the U.S. wanted to send the Strykers to Poland rather than ship the vehicles back to the United States as part of a drawdown on the Continent.
The situation raised questions about whether the Army has plans to move soldiers from the Vilseck, Germany-based 2nd Cavalry Regiment, which uses Strykers, back to the United States.
Such a plan existed during President Donald Trump’s first term as part of a broader reduction of the military’s mission in Germany. Those plans never came to fruition, but an ongoing force posture review by the Pentagon has raised questions about the future of the Army in Europe.
But Col. Mike Weisman, USAREUR-AF spokesman, said Monday that the “referenced activity concerns legacy equipment involved in a Foreign Military Sales process and is not related to U.S. force posture in Europe.”
The Army did not elaborate on the nature of the proposed Stryker deal. Polish media reported that the Stryker transfer being considered was to include a symbolic $1 fee.
Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz told Polish Radio that the technical condition of the vehicles was now being assessed to determine their usefulness to the Polish army.
Strykers are eight-wheeled armored vehicles known for their versatility and range.
