Romania’s defense ministry has announced that the United States intends to reduce some of its troops stationed on NATO’s eastern flank. Bucharest has indicated that between 900 and 1,000 American soldiers will remain in the country, a decrease from the previous contingent of 1,700.
The ministry characterized this decision as anticipated, attributing the troop “resizing” to the new strategic priorities of the Trump administration, which has signaled a desire to shift focus towards the Indo-Pacific region and encouraged European allies to bolster their own defense capabilities.
Specifically, one US brigade currently stationed at the Mihai Kogalniceanu airbase, slated to become NATO’s largest base in Europe, will be rotated out without replacement, according to Defense Minister Ionut Mosteanu. The brigade’s operations extend to Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia, and Hungary, though the full extent of troop movements in these countries remains unclear.
In response to initial reports, a NATO official emphasized that the US commitment to the alliance remains steadfast and that such force adjustments are not uncommon. The official noted that despite this particular change, the overall US military presence in Europe is still significantly larger than it was prior to 2022.
The United States currently maintains over 100,000 military personnel across Europe. This development follows NATO’s recent announcement of “Eastern Sentry,” a mission designed to enhance vigilance along the alliance’s eastern perimeter, prompted by recent airspace violations by Russian drones and aircraft in Poland, Romania, and Estonia.
It’s important to note that the presence of US troops at Romania’s Deveselu and Campia Turzii bases will reportedly remain unchanged.